Kickstart My Heart amp settings — Laney LH50
The Mötley Crüe guitar tone for “Kickstart My Heart”, dialed in for a Laney LH50 with a Fender American Ultra Stratocaster. Studio version, Dr. Feelgood (1989)
Marshall JCM800 / Soldano SLO-100, Kramer Baretta & Gibson Les Paul with high-output humbuckers (Seymour Duncan JB), Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive, MXR Phase 90
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 7 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 5 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 6 |
01Tube Screamer (TS9) or Boss SD-1
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for tightening low end and pushing the preamp into saturated territory. Without this, the Laney alone will sound looser and less focused than the original.
The Laney LH50 is a British-voiced EL34 amp closer to a Marshall than Mick's Soldano, so it will nail the JCM800 rhythm tones naturally. Your Strat's single-coil bridge pickup has lower output and brighter voicing than Mars' humbuckers — compensate by raising gain +1 from a humbucker baseline and keeping treble high but not harsh. The mid control stays at 5 rather than scooped because single coils already lack the midrange punch of a JB humbucker. An overdrive pedal in front is critical to achieve the compressed, tight attack of the original.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Laney LH50. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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