Eye of the Tiger

The recording

The opening riff is a tight, palm‑muted figure recorded on a Gibson Les Paul Standard and run straight into a Marshall JCM800 lead channel. The rest of the rhythm and melodic fills were layered with a Fender Stratocaster, providing a smoother clean tone. No external effects are audible beyond the natural studio reverb, so the tone comes from the guitars, amp settings, and the room.

Reported gear

1968 Gibson Les Paul Standard

Guitar

Frankie Sullivan recorded the iconic palm‑muted riff on a 1968 Gibson Les Paul Standard, as documented in a gear rundown for the track.

1976 Fender Stratocaster

Guitar

The clean rhythm and melodic fills were tracked on a 1970s Fender Stratocaster, which Sullivan used for the song’s verses, according to forum reports.

Marshall JCM800 (1982)

Amp

The guitar parts were captured through a Marshall JCM800, with the bright switch off and moderate gain, delivering the song’s tight crunch.

Alternatives

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Budget alternative · for the 1968 Gibson Les Paul Standard

$400 to $600

Marshall DSL40CR

Budget alternative · for the Marshall JCM800 (1982)

$550 to $650

Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster

Budget alternative · for the 1976 Fender Stratocaster

$350 to $450

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Select the bridge pickup and turn the tone knob to full.
2. 2.Palm‑mute the low E and A strings on the main riff for that choppy attack.
3. 3.Use a heavy pick (≈0.88 mm) to accentuate the attack.
4. 4.Blend a clean Stratocaster layer for the verses, using the neck pickup for a smoother tone.