Tone library / Michael Jackson / Beat It

Beat It amp settings — MOOER Hornet 30i

The Michael Jackson guitar tone for “Beat It”, dialed in for a MOOER Hornet 30i with a LTD MT-130. Studio version, Thriller (1982) — Eddie Van Halen solo section

Original rig

Charvel 'Frankie' Strat with single bridge humbucker → Jose Arredondo-modded Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W with Variac (voltage sag for compression and sag), tape delay

Hot, compressed mid-forward crunch with singing sustain and slight sag — the 'brown sound'

Amp settings — MOOER Hornet 30i

CHANNELOD2 (highest gain channel)BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	5
Mid	6
Treble	6
Master	5

Don’t have a MOOER Hornet 30i? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The Hornet 30i's OD2 channel approximates hot-rodded Marshall gain. Your LTD MT-130's active EMG pickups run hotter than EVH's passive humbucker, so gain is dropped from 8 to 7 to avoid fizz. Mid is pushed +0.5 to compensate for the modeling amp's slightly scooped voicing vs a real Plexi. The Hornet 30i lacks dedicated presence and reverb knobs — use the app/software editor if you need presence around 6.

PRO TIPEVH's Variac gave his amp voltage sag and compression — replicate this feel by backing your guitar volume to 8 for the verse and rolling it up to 10 for the solo's attack, letting the amp breathe dynamically.

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These settings are for a MOOER Hornet 30i. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.