Tone library / Thin Lizzy / The Boys Are Back In Town

The Boys Are Back In Town amp settings — Fender Champion 40

The Thin Lizzy guitar tone for “The Boys Are Back In Town”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 40 with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Jailbreak (1976) — main dual-harmony rhythm and lead tone

Original rig

Gibson Les Paul Deluxe / Standard into Marshall JMP 1959 Super Lead 100W heads via 4x12 Celestion cabs, MXR Phase 90 on select fills

Classic 70s British mid-forward rock crunch with punchy attack and smooth sustain
Amp settings — Fender Champion 40
CHANNELBritish voice (Channel 2)
GAIN 6 BASS 5 TREBLE 6 REVERB 2 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass5
Treble6
Reverb2
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

Used as a clean mid-boost to push the amp into classic Marshall saturation for solo sections

Drive 2 · Tone 5 · Level 7

02MXR Phase 90

Optional slow sweep for fills and lead texture — keep bypassed during main rhythm riffs

Speed 3
Why these settings

The Fender Champion 40 is a modeling amp without a dedicated Mid or Presence knob; select the 'British' voice on Channel 2 to capture the Marshall JMP character. The Ibanez GRG170DX bridge humbucker matches the output of a classic Les Paul well, while the TS9 adds the authentic mid-push and sustain needed for Thin Lizzy's iconic dual leads. Set the onboard FX to light Hall reverb or use a touch of spring to replicate the studio room ambience.

PRO TIPTune the entire guitar down a half-step (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb) and pick near the bridge with firm downward attacks to get the exact percussive bite of the harmony riffs.

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These settings are for a Fender Champion 40. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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