Tone library / Whitesnake / Is this Love

Is this Love amp settings — Blackstar HT20R MkII

The Whitesnake guitar tone for “Is this Love”, dialed in for a Blackstar HT20R MkII with a Schecter C-1 Hellraiser. Studio version, Whitesnake / 1987 (Iconic Clean/Chorused Intro and Verses)

Original rig

1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom (Dirty Fingers humbuckers) into Jose Arredondo-modded Marshall JCM800 / Mesa Mark IIC+ blend, Roland Dimension D chorus, Lexicon 224 reverb, Yamaha SPX90 delay

Lush, pristine 80s chorused clean with warm compression, wide stereo modulation, and ambient hall decay
Amp settings — Blackstar HT20R MkII
CHANNELClean Channel (Voice button In / 'American' Clean)BOOSToff
GAIN 3 BASS 6 MID 5 TREBLE 6 REVERB 4 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain3
Bass6
Mid5
Treble6
Reverb4
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPmiddle TONE9 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01HX Effects: Deluxe Comp (in front)

Compressor block in front of amp input to add 80s studio polish and sustain to the pick attack

Threshold 6 · Ratio 4 · Attack 3 · Release 5 · Level 6

02HX Effects: Dimension Chorus / Chorus (FX loop)

Modulation block routed into the HT-20R MkII FX loop to emulate the studio Roland Dimension D rack

Rate 4 · Depth 7 · Mix 5 · Tone 6

03HX Effects: Simple Delay (FX loop)

Set delay time to ~455ms (dotted eighth/quarter around 88 BPM) with low feedback

Time 5 · Feedback 3 · Mix 3 · Tone 5
Why these settings

The HT-20R MkII clean channel with the Voice button engaged provides pristine clean headroom to prevent the hot active EMG pickups on the Schecter from breaking up into unwanted grit. Setting the ISF fully counter-clockwise (American clean) keeps the low-end clear and highs chimey, while the HX Effects handles the crucial rack compression, chorus, and delay in the loop. Treble is dialed to 6 to balance the bright EMG active humbuckers against the signature studio hi-fi gloss.

PRO TIPSelect both active humbuckers (middle toggle position) and use a stiff pick with a relaxed wrist to catch that crisp, pristine percussive attack John Sykes achieved on the arpeggiated intro.

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These settings are for a Blackstar HT20R MkII. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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