Tone library / Rory Gallagher / Bad Penny

Bad Penny amp settings — Sonicake Pocket Master

The Rory Gallagher guitar tone for “Bad Penny”, dialed in for a Sonicake Pocket Master with a JET JS 380. Studio version, Top Priority (1979)

Original rig

1961 Fender Stratocaster into Marshall 2104 / JMP 50W 2x12 combos boosted with a Boss DB-5 Driver / Hawk Booster and MXR Dyna Comp

Aggressive, mid-forward British hard rock crunch with stinging Strat bite
Amp settings — Sonicake Pocket Master
CHANNELMarshall JCM/Plexi amp model (British Crunch) + 2x12 or 4x12 Greenback Cab IRBOOSToff
GAIN 6 BASS 5 MID 8 TREBLE 7 REVERB 2 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass5
Mid8
Treble7
Reverb2
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE9 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Compressor Block (Dyna Comp style)

In Pocket Master pre-amp FX slot to add percussive attack and sustain

Sustain 6 · Level 7

02Overdrive Block (TS / Mid Booster style)

Used as a clean mid-boost into the Marshall block to emulate Rory's DB-5 / Hawk booster

Drive 3 · Tone 7 · Level 8
Why these settings

Rory used mid-heavy boost pedals pushing cranked 50W Marshall JMP combos to give his Strat thick sustain without fizz. On the Pocket Master, use a Marshall crunch model with the mid control pushed to 8 and tighten the low end to 5. A light compressor and mid-boost drive block in front replicates the punchy front-end push of his live and studio rigs.

PRO TIPDig in hard near the bridge with a heavy pick and utilize Rory's hybrid pick-and-finger attack for the percussive snap on the main riff.

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