Ace of Spades

The recording

Eddie Clarke recorded his guitar parts at Jackson's Studios in Rickmansworth in August 1980 using a Gibson Les Paul Standard through a Marshall 100‑watt Super Lead head and a 4×12 cabinet, dialing the amp to maximum gain for the raw, overdriven tone. The track was captured with the guitar directly feeding the amp, no distortion pedals were employed, relying on the amp’s natural distortion and Clarke’s aggressive down‑stroke attack.

Tuning Eb (half-step down) standard tuning

Reported gear

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Guitar

Clarke used his Gibson Les Paul Standard for the Ace of Spades tracks, delivering the thick, sustained tones that drive the song’s riff.

Marshall Super Lead 100W

Amp

The guitar was run through a Marshall 100‑watt Super Lead head, cranked to full gain, providing the raw, gritty distortion heard on the record.

Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinet

Cabinet

The amp was paired with a classic Marshall 4×12 speaker cabinet, delivering the punchy mid‑range and tight low‑end that define the track’s sound.

Alternatives

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Budget alternative · for the Gibson Les Paul Standard

$450 to $600

Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cabinet (used)

Budget alternative · for the Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinet

$900 to $1,200

Marshall DSL40CR

Budget alternative · for the Marshall Super Lead 100W

$800 to $1,200

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Tune all strings down a half step (Eb tuning) before playing.
2. 2.Use a heavy‑pick attack and aggressive down‑strokes for the main riff.
3. 3.Apply tight palm‑muting on the low‑E strings to tighten the chug.
4. 4.Set the amp’s gain high and the volume to push the speaker for natural distortion.
5. 5.Blend the bridge pickup with the neck for a fuller tone when soloing.