Get this tone on your gear
Choose your guitar and amp to get exact knob settings.
The recording
Recorded on 16 June 1978 at Wizard Studios in Belfast, "Teenage Kicks" was captured on a modest £200 budget using a 4‑track TEAC recorder. Engineer Davy Shannon tracked the two guitars live through a Marshall JTM45 into a 4×12 cabinet, mic'd with a Shure SM57, preserving the raw energy of the band's performance.
Tuning E A D G B E
Signal chain
Original gear
1960s Fender Telecaster
Guitar
John O’Neill recorded the opening power chords on his 1960s Fender Telecaster, delivering the bright, trebly attack that defines the song’s hook.
1970s Gibson SG
Guitar
Damian O’Neill added a complementary rhythm line on his 1970s Gibson SG, giving the track its thick, mid‑range body.
Marshall JTM45 (1965)
Amplifier
Both guitars were run through a Marshall JTM45 head, providing the raw, crunchy overdrive that drives the single’s punchy sound.
Marshall 4×12 Cabinet (1965)
Cabinet
The amp was mated to a Marshall 4×12 speaker cabinet, captured with a close‑mic Shure SM57, delivering a tight, aggressive tone.
Alternatives
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Use the bridge pickup for maximum brightness
- 2.Attack the strings with a firm, fast pick near the bridge
- 3.Set the amp treble high and keep gain moderate to emulate natural overdrive
- 4.Choose a light‑gauge set such as .010‑.046 for rapid chord changes
- 5.Add slight palm‑muting on the low strings to tighten the rhythm
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Teenage Kicks guitar tone?
The available research points to 1960s Fender Telecaster into Marshall JTM45 (1965). The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Teenage Kicks 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 Teenage Kicks 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 Teenage Kicks 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.
