Tone library / Mötley Crüe / Dr.feelgood

Dr.feelgood amp settings — Fender Deluxe Reverb

The Mötley Crüe guitar tone for “Dr.feelgood”, dialed in for a Fender Deluxe Reverb with a Harley Benton Fusion-III HH. Studio version, Dr. Feelgood album (1989)

Original rig

Modified Marshall JCM800/Soldano-style hot-rodded amp, various Kramers and Les Pauls with humbuckers, studio compression and EQ

Aggressive mid-forward crunch with tight low-end, saturated but articulate rhythm tone with hair-metal bite
Amp settings — Fender Deluxe Reverb
CHANNELVibrato channelBRIGHTon
GAIN 3 BASS 4 MID 7 TREBLE 5 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain3
Bass4
Mid7
Treble5
Reverb0
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01ProCo RAT 2 or similar distortion

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for reaching Mick Mars' saturated gain — the Deluxe Reverb cannot produce this level of distortion on its own. A Boss DS-1 or MXR Distortion+ are budget alternatives.

Distortion 7 · Filter 4 · Volume 7
Why these settings

The Fender Deluxe Reverb is a clean-platform amp that cannot approach Marshall hot-rod saturation at any gain setting. Amp gain stays low (3) to provide clean headroom while the distortion pedal delivers all the saturation. Mid pushed to 7 compensates for the Fender's natural mid-scoop versus the mid-forward Marshall voicing Mick Mars used. Treble dropped to 5 because the Deluxe Reverb's treble shelf is higher and brighter than a Marshall's.

PRO TIPMick Mars uses aggressive palm-muting on the main riff with his pick angled slightly — dig in hard on the low strings and let the distortion pedal's compression even out the dynamics. Roll your tone knob to 7 to tame the Fusion's hot ceramic humbuckers and get closer to the slightly darker PAF-style voicing on the original.

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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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