Michael Jackson
Thriller · 1982
Amp settings (as recorded)
The recording
The guitar work for 'Billie Jean' was performed by session legend David Williams. The rhythm part was captured during a demo session at Michael Jackson's home studio. Because the playing had a unique 'secret spice' and feel that could not be replicated during professional tracking sessions at Westlake Recording Studios, producer Quincy Jones and engineer Bruce Swedien elected to use the original DI demo recording for the final album master.
Tuning
StandardRecording Signal Chain · 3 items
Ibanez Strat-style guitar
Ibanez
Main rhythm guitar
Specifically utilized with humbucker settings for a focused, bright, and percussive attack
Wah
Dunlop
Tone sculpting
Used sparingly to shape the 'quack' and percussive peaks of the rhythm part
DI/Direct Input
N/A
Recording Source
The iconic rhythm track is a direct recording from the home studio demo
Tone Characteristics
ToneTwin