Tone library / Micheal jackson / Dirty diana

Dirty diana amp settings — Vox Pathfinder 15R

The Micheal jackson guitar tone for “Dirty diana”, dialed in for a Vox Pathfinder 15R with a SX Stratocastor. Studio version, Bad (1987) — Steve Stevens lead and heavy rhythm parts

Original rig

1969 100W Marshall Super Lead Plexi, Charvel Superstrat (bridge humbucker), Boss distortion/overdrive, Lexicon studio delay/reverb

Searing late-80s high-gain hot-rodded Plexi lead tone with singing sustain and smooth top end
Amp settings — Vox Pathfinder 15R
CHANNELCleanBOOSToff
GAIN 3 BASS 6 TREBLE 4 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain3
Bass6
Treble4
Reverb0
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE9 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Mooer GE100 (DS/OD Block: US Blues / TS9 style)

Clean boost into the amp model to push harmonic saturation

Gain 4 · Tone 5 · Level 7

02Mooer GE100 (Amp Model: Plexi / MS 800)

Marshall Plexi high-gain emulation serving as primary dirt source

Gain 8 · Tone 6 · Level 6

03Mooer GE100 (Delay Block: Digital Delay)

Studio stereo delay emulation (~350ms)

Time 4 · F.Back 3 · Level 3

04Mooer GE100 (Reverb Block: Plate Reverb)

80s studio plate reverb emulation

Decay 5 · Tone 5 · Level 4
Why these settings

The Vox Pathfinder 15R lacks the cascaded gain and British mid-bark of Steve Stevens' cranked Plexi, and its faceplate has no mid or presence controls. To avoid muddy double-gain, the Pathfinder is kept on clean with gain at 3 and treble trimmed to tame solid-state bite, while the Mooer GE100 handles the hot-rodded Marshall preamp and 80s studio delay/plate wetness. For the bridge single coil on your SX Strat, the tone knob is rolled slightly back to 9 to emulate the fatness of Steve's bridge humbucker. Clean verse: bypass the GE100 drive and amp blocks while keeping subtle delay and reverb active.

PRO TIPDig in hard with the edge of a heavy pick for aggressive pinch harmonics, and let wide vibrato sustain Stevens' high-register melodic bends.

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These settings are for a Vox Pathfinder 15R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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