Tone library / Styx / Babe

Babe amp settings — Zoom G1X Four

The Styx guitar tone for “Babe”, dialed in for a Zoom G1X Four with a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. Studio version, Cornerstone (1979) — demo recording with Tommy Shaw guitar solo overdub

Original rig

Fender Rhodes electric piano (primary instrument), minimal guitar — Tommy Shaw's overdubbed solo likely through a Marshall or similar tube amp with light gain; Shaw typically used Gibson guitars through Marshall stacks in this era

Warm, clean-to-edge-of-breakup lead tone with smooth sustain and gentle midrange presence — melodic rock solo voicing sitting above lush keyboards
Amp settings — Zoom G1X Four
CHANNELMS 1959 (Marshall Plexi model) or MS CRUNCHBOOSToff
GAIN 4 BASS 5 MID 6 TREBLE 5 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain4
Bass5
Mid6
Treble5
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPneck TONE7 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Zoom G1X Four — Amp Model Block

Select Marshall-style amp model; this is your primary tone source

Model MS 1959 or MS CRUNCH · Gain 4 · EQ Bass 5 · EQ Mid 6 · EQ Treble 5

02Zoom G1X Four — Hall Reverb Block

Light hall reverb to add space without washing out the tone

Mix 3 · Decay 4 · Tone 6

03Zoom G1X Four — Analog Delay Block

Short slapback delay for depth — subtle, not dominant

Time 4 · Feedback 3 · Mix 2
Why these settings

The original has minimal guitar — it's a keyboard-driven ballad with a brief melodic solo. Tommy Shaw's 1979 tone was Marshall-based with moderate gain. On the G1X Four, the MS 1959 model captures that warm British midrange. Gain at 4 keeps it singing without excess saturation. Your Les Paul's neck humbucker with tone rolled to 7 smooths the top end for that lyrical solo voice.

PRO TIPPlay the solo with your picking hand closer to the neck for a rounder attack — Shaw's phrasing on this track is vocal and deliberate, not aggressive. Let notes breathe and use light vibrato rather than heavy bends.

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