Smooth Criminal amp settings — Crate XT15R
The Michael Jackson guitar tone for “Smooth Criminal”, dialed in for a Crate XT15R with a Ibanez Gio Gax 70. Studio version, Bad (1987) — main percussive rhythm track (David Williams)
Fender Stratocaster (bridge/middle single-coil) direct into Neve console preamp via custom active DI, compressed with UREI 1176 / Teletronix LA-2A
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Bass | 3 |
| Mid | 5 |
| Treble | 8 |
| Reverb | 1 |
| Master | 5 |
01Compressor (Dynacomp / Ross style)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (essential for the studio console squish and fast percussive attack)
The original is a Stratocaster recorded direct to a Neve console with heavy studio compression and zero amp distortion. To simulate that glassy single-coil DI snap on your humbucker-equipped Ibanez GAX 70 and Crate XT15R, keep the amp strictly on the clean channel, cut the bass to 3 to prevent muddy low-end build-up, and push treble to 8 for articulation. The Crate XT15R faceplate has Level, Low, Mid, High, Reverb on the clean path, with no separate Gain or Presence knobs.
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These settings are for a Crate XT15R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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