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Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
The track was produced by Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie and the Smeezingtons and recorded in 2012. Bruno Mars performed the signature guitar riff on a single‑coil electric guitar, which was then compressed and run through a chorus to achieve a bright, slightly warped tone reminiscent of The Police. The guitar sits prominently in the mix, driving the verses and supporting the reggae‑inflected groove while the rest of the arrangement blends live instrumentation with modern pop production.
Signal chain
Reported gear
Electric guitar with single-coil pickups (make unknown)
Guitar
A single-coil electric guitar was used for the main riff, providing a bright, articulate tone as noted in a Gearspace discussion of the song.
Compressor pedal (unspecified)
Compressor
The tone includes compression, referenced in a Gearspace discussion of the song's sound.
Chorus pedal (unspecified)
Chorus
A chorus effect is mentioned as part of the chain for the Police‑like guitar tone.
Alternatives
Squier Affinity Stratocaster
Budget alternative · for the Electric guitar with single-coil pickups (make unknown)
Boss CE-2W Chorus
Modern equivalent · for the Chorus pedal (unspecified)
MXR Dyna Comp
Modern equivalent · for the Compressor pedal (unspecified)
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Use a light pick for crisp attack
- 2.Select the bridge pickup for bright single‑coil tone
- 3.Apply subtle compression to even out dynamics
- 4.Add a gentle chorus to widen the sound
- 5.Keep the rhythm tight and syncopated as in the original
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Locked Out of Heaven guitar tone?
The available research points to Electric guitar with single-coil pickups (make unknown). The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Locked Out of Heaven 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.
How do I recreate the Locked Out of Heaven 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.
