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Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Recorded live at the Fillmore East on March 1971 and released on Eat a Peach in 1972, Duane Allman's bottleneck slide on 'One Way Out' cuts through the mix with a singing, overdriven tone. He employed his 1959 Gibson Les Paul in open‑E tuning, feeding it into a cranked 50‑watt Marshall head and a matching 4×12 cabinet, letting the amp's natural breakup shape the sustain and harmonic richness of the slide phrases.
Tuning Open E (E-B-E-G#-B-E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
1959 Gibson Les Paul (Cherry Sunburst)
Guitar
Duane Allman used his 1959 Gibson Les Paul ('Cherry Sunburst') for the slide parts on 'One Way Out', employing its humbucking pickups to capture a thick, singing tone.
Marshall 50‑watt (likely JTM45) head
Amp
The Les Paul was run through a 50‑watt Marshall head, likely a JTM45, cranked to natural overdrive, delivering the classic mid‑range crunch heard on the recording.
Marshall 4×12 cabinet
Cabinet
The amp was paired with a matching Marshall 4×12 speaker cabinet, providing the tight low end and articulate highs that helped the slide cut through the live mix.
Alternatives
Gibson Les Paul Standard (2019)
Modern equivalent · for the 1959 Gibson Les Paul (Cherry Sunburst)
Marshall 4×12 Cabinet (Modern)
Modern equivalent · for the Marshall 4×12 cabinet
Marshall JTM45 Reissue (50W)
Reissue · for the Marshall 50‑watt (likely JTM45) head
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Tune the guitar to Open E (E‑B‑E‑G#‑B‑E) before the slide part.
- 2.Use a glass or metal bottleneck slide and keep it just above the strings to allow clean note articulation.
- 3.Position the slide near the nut for bright, clear tones, and near the bridge for warmer, fuller sounds.
- 4.Let the Marshall amp break up naturally—avoid heavy pedal gain and rely on the amp’s overdrive for sustain.
- 5.Attack the strings lightly with the slide and let the guitar’s volume knob stay high to maximize resonance.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the One Way Out guitar tone?
The available research points to 1959 Gibson Les Paul (Cherry Sunburst) into Marshall 50‑watt (likely JTM45) head. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original One Way Out 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 One Way Out in?
The current research record lists Open E (E-B-E-G#-B-E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the One Way Out 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.
