Beat It amp settings — Yamaha GA-15
The Michael Jackson guitar tone for “Beat It”, dialed in for a Yamaha GA-15 with a Yamaha ERG 121C. Studio version, Thriller (1982) — iconic main riff and rhythm tracks
Steve Lukather: 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Paul Rivera-modded Fender Blackface Deluxe Reverb
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 6 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 7 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Master | 4 |
01Overdrive (Ibanez TS9 / Boss SD-1)
RECOMMENDED — not owned. Use to tighten low-end and add studio tube compression.
The GA-15's 6.5-inch speaker and solid-state drive can get fizzy if gain or bass are pushed too high, so gain is kept moderate at 6 with bass at 5 for tight tracking. Pushing mids to 7 compensates for the small speaker enclosure to recreate the punchy mid-forward cut of Lukather's pushed Deluxe Reverb. Your ERG 121C bridge humbucker provides the necessary punch and output for the riff.
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These settings are for a Yamaha GA-15. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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