What Do I Get?

The recording

"What Do I Get?" was recorded in September 1977 at T.W. Studios in Fulham, London and mixed at Olympic Studios under producer Martin Rushent and engineer Doug Bennett (MusicBrainz). The track features Pete Shelley's lead lines on a Teisco MJ-2 (ET‑200) and Steve Diggle's rhythm on a stolen Gibson Les Paul, both driven through a Fender Twin Reverb, yielding a bright, raw tone that sits prominently in the mix with little reverb. The guitars were captured with a close‑mic technique, giving a tight, immediate sound characteristic of early British punk.

Reported gear

1970s Teisco MJ-2 (ET-200)

Guitar

Pete Shelley used a Teisco MJ-2 (also known as the ET-200) with its distinctive surface‑mounted pickups to achieve the bright, raw crunch heard on "What Do I Get?".

1960s Gibson Les Paul

Guitar

Steve Diggle reportedly played a stolen Gibson Les Paul for rhythm parts during the early 1978 sessions, as recounted by a contemporary anecdote.

Fender Twin Reverb (1960s)

Amplifier

The Buzzcocks recorded the single using a Fender Twin Reverb, providing a clean yet punchy platform that the overdriven guitars sat on.

Alternatives

Squier Affinity Telecaster

Budget alternative · for the 1970s Teisco MJ-2 (ET-200)

$150 to $200

Fender Champion 40

Budget alternative · for the Fender Twin Reverb (1960s)

$200 to $300

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Budget alternative · for the 1960s Gibson Les Paul

$400 to $600

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Use a thin pick and aggressive downstrokes for tight, punchy rhythm.
2. 2.Select the bridge pickup on the Teisco for maximum brightness.
3. 3.Turn the amp’s volume high while keeping gain low to let the guitar’s natural overdrive shine.
4. 4.Play with fast alternate‑picking to capture the song’s driving feel.
5. 5.Leave the tone knob open for a treble‑rich, cutting sound.