Bigmouth Strikes Again

The recording

Johnny Marr recorded the main rhythm on a Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty, playing an Am shape capoed at the fourth fret with the bridge pickup, aiming for a cheap Les Paul tone. The track was tracked at RAK Studios in September 1985 under the production of Morrissey and Johnny Marr, engineered by Stephen Street.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E) with capo on 4th fret·Strings Ernie Ball .010‑.046

Reported gear

Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty

Guitar

Marr used a Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty for the main rhythm part, seeking a cheap Les Paul tone as he described for the track.

Rickenbacker 330

Guitar

A Rickenbacker 330 was paired with the Les Paul for the second break, adding a bright, chiming layer.

AMS RMX16 Harmonizer

Multi_fx

Marr processed the slide part through an AMS RMX16 harmonizer, raising its pitch for a synthetic high‑frequency texture.

1954 Fender Telecaster

Guitar

A vintage 1954 Fender Telecaster was used for the core rhythm track, with the bridge pickup selected; this aligns with Marr’s typical 1985 rig.

Boss CE-2 Chorus

Chorus

A Boss CE‑2 analogue chorus was placed after the guitar to add a subtle shimmer to the clean tone.

Fender '65 Twin Reverb

Amp

The signal was amplified through a Fender 1965 Twin Reverb, cranked to full volume for a clean, bright output.

Alternatives

Gibson Les Paul Standard (Modern equivalent)

Budget alternative · for the Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty

$1,200 to 1,800

Fender American Vintage '54 Telecaster Reissue

Reissue · for the 1954 Fender Telecaster

$1,500 to 2,800

Rickenbacker 330 Reissue

Reissue · for the Rickenbacker 330

$2,000 to 2,800

Boss CE-5 Chorus

Modern equivalent · for the Boss CE-2 Chorus

$150 to 180

Eventide H3000 Harmonizer

Modern equivalent · for the AMS RMX16 Harmonizer

$1,500 to 2,200

Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue

Reissue · for the Fender '65 Twin Reverb

$1,500 to 2,800

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Capo the guitar at the 4th fret and use an Am shape to play the main chord progression.
2. 2.Employ hybrid picking (thumb and three fingers) to articulate the arpeggiated chords.
3. 3.Add a light analogue chorus (Boss CE‑2) to the clean tone for the signature shimmer.
4. 4.For the slide break, glide the high‑E string while routing the signal through an AMS harmonizer for a high‑pitched, synthetic texture.
5. 5.Keep the amp volume high and the tone set bright on a Fender Twin Reverb to let the clean tone cut through the mix.