Tone library / Michael Jackson / Smooth Criminal

Smooth Criminal amp settings — Fender Deluxe Reverb

The Michael Jackson guitar tone for “Smooth Criminal”, dialed in for a Fender Deluxe Reverb with a Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster. Studio version, Bad (1987)

Original rig

Fender Stratocaster direct into Neve recording console via custom active DI box (played by David Williams), heavily compressed with studio outboard gear

Ultra-clean, percussive, snappy 80s funk rhythm with tight low end and crisp transient attack

Amp settings — Fender Deluxe Reverb

CHANNELNormal Channel (Input 1)

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	3
Bass	3
Treble	7
Reverb	1
Master	5

Don’t have a Fender Deluxe Reverb? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge+middle TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Compressor (e.g. Boss CS-3 / Keeley Comp)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Level 7 · Tone 6 · Attack 7 · Sustain 6

Why these settings

The original track is a direct-to-board DI recording with heavy studio compression, yielding an ultra-tight transient snap with no amp breakup. On your Deluxe Reverb, keep the volume low around 3 for pristine headroom and cut the bass down to 3 to prevent loose low-end boom. Adding an outboard compressor pedal in the future will nail the punchy 80s David Williams studio squeeze.

PRO TIPPosition 4 (bridge + middle out-of-phase notch) is critical for this track's hollow 'quack'; pick sharply near the bridge with rigid, light wrist snaps while muting unplayed strings cleanly with your fretting hand.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Fender Deluxe Reverb. 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.