Get this tone on your rig
Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
The title track "London Calling" was recorded at Wessex Sound Studios in August-September 1979 on a 24-track tape. Mick Jones' Les Paul Junior and Joe Strummer's guitar were miked with close Shure SM57s while ambient Neumann U87s captured room ambience. Both guitars were double-tracked, with the P-90 pickup on the Junior set to the bridge position for a biting attack, and Strummer's instrument set to bridge for a bright, cutting rhythm. The signal was sent through a cranked Marshall JTM45 into a 4x12 cabinet, then captured with a combination of close and room mics, giving the guitars a raw, in-your-face tone that still retains natural room reverb.
Tuning E A D G B E
Signal chain
Reported gear
Gibson Les Paul Junior (1955)
Guitar
Mick Jones used his 1955 Gibson Les Paul Junior with a P-90 pickup, cranking it to cut through the mix on "London Calling".
Marshall JTM45 (circa 1970s)
Amp
The guitar signal was driven through a cranked Marshall JTM45 head, delivering the classic British overdrive heard on the record.
Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinet
Cabinet
The JTM45 was paired with a 1960-era 4x12 Marshall cabinet, providing the punchy low-end and tight mids that sit behind the guitars on the track.
Alternatives
Epiphone Les Paul Junior
Budget alternative · for the Gibson Les Paul Junior (1955)
Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinet (reissue)
Modern equivalent · for the Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinet
Marshall JTM45 reissue (2020)
Reissue · for the Marshall JTM45 (circa 1970s)
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Use the bridge pickup for maximum bite
- 2.Crank the amp gain and back off tone controls to let the amp's natural overdrive dominate
- 3.Play aggressive downstrokes for rhythmic drive
- 4.Slightly roll back the guitar volume to tame edge while preserving clarity
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the London Calling guitar tone?
The available research points to Gibson Les Paul Junior (1955) into Marshall JTM45 (circa 1970s). The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original London Calling 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 London Calling in?
The current research record lists E A D G B E. ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the London Calling 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.
