Rainbow in the Dark

The recording

Recorded in 1983 at Sound City Studios, 'Rainbow in the Dark' features Vivian Campbell’s lead parts played on a 1979 Gibson Les Paul, captured in a single take. He routed the signal through a Boss DS‑1 distortion and a Roland RE‑201 Space Echo placed before a Marshall JCM800 100‑watt head, feeding a 4×12 Celestion cabinet. The pre‑amp delay adds the subtle echo that textures the solo, while the amp’s aggressive mids give the riff its classic heavy‑metal bite.

Tuning Standard E (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

1979 Gibson Les Paul

Guitar

Campbell recorded his parts on a 1979 Gibson Les Paul, delivering the thick, sustain‑rich tone heard on the track.

Boss DS-1 Distortion

Distortion

A Boss DS‑1 was placed in front of the amp to add extra bite and sustain to the Les Paul tone.

Roland RE-201 Space Echo

Delay

A Roland RE‑201 Space Echo was used as a pre‑amp delay, providing the subtle repeats that texture the solo.

Marshall JCM800 100-watt Head

Amp

He cranked a Marshall JCM800 100‑watt head, giving the aggressive mids and tight low end that drive the riff.

Marshall 4x12 Celestion Cabinet

Cabinet

The amp was routed into a Marshall 4×12 cabinet loaded with Celestion V30 speakers, delivering the bright, powerful projection heard on the mix.

Alternatives

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Budget alternative · for the 1979 Gibson Les Paul

$150 to $180

Marshall JCM800 reissue

Reissue · for the Marshall JCM800 100-watt Head

$600 to $800

Boss DS-1 Distortion

Modern equivalent · for the Boss DS-1 Distortion

$30 to $45

Marshall 4x12 Cabinet (used)

Budget alternative · for the Marshall 4x12 Celestion Cabinet

$300 to $500

Roland RE-201 Space Echo (used)

Budget alternative · for the Roland RE-201 Space Echo

$400 to $600

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Select the bridge pickup on a humbucker‑equipped Les Paul for maximum sustain.
2. 2.Drive a distortion pedal (e.g., Boss DS‑1) hard and set the tone knob to a bright position.
3. 3.Insert a short‑delay echo (e.g., Roland RE‑201) before the amp, with low feedback and a single repeat.
4. 4.Crank a Marshall JCM800 head into a 4×12 Celestion cabinet, keeping the mids high and bass tight.
5. 5.Play the solo with fluid legato and precise alternate picking, as the original was recorded in one take.