Maniac amp settings — Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
The Michael Sembello guitar tone for “Maniac”, dialed in for a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier with a Squier Affinity Telecaster. Studio version, Flashdance Soundtrack (1983) — signature guitar solo
Scholz Rockman X100 direct into console, Superstrat with bridge humbucker, studio compression, stereo chorus, studio digital delay and plate reverb
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 7 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Presence | 4 |
| Master | 4 |
01Analog Chorus (Boss CE-2 style)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (run in FX loop)
02Digital Delay (Boss DD-3 style)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (run in FX loop)
The Dual Rectifier's naturally scooped, aggressive low-end is reined in by cutting bass to 4 and pushing mids to 7 to recreate the signature honky midrange of the Scholz Rockman. Your Telecaster bridge single-coil is brighter and thinner than Sembello's humbucker, so rolling the guitar tone knob back to 7 smooths out the top-end fizz while presence is kept at 4. The amp's Channel 3 Modern mode carries the hyper-saturated sustain natively today; adding an external chorus and delay in the FX loop will finish the unmistakable 80s studio polish.
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These settings are for a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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