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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
Signal chain
Original 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
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Capo the guitar at the 4th fret and use an Am shape to play the main chord progression.
- 2.Employ hybrid picking (thumb and three fingers) to articulate the arpeggiated chords.
- 3.Add a light analogue chorus (Boss CE‑2) to the clean tone for the signature shimmer.
- 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.Keep the amp volume high and the tone set bright on a Fender Twin Reverb to let the clean tone cut through the mix.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Bigmouth Strikes Again guitar tone?
The available research points to Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty into Fender '65 Twin Reverb. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Bigmouth Strikes Again amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Bigmouth Strikes Again in?
The current research record lists Standard (E A D G B E) with capo on 4th fret. ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Bigmouth Strikes Again tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
