Where Is My Mind?

The recording

On "Where Is My Mind?" Joey Santiago’s lead lines were tracked live with his 1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, using the bridge humbucker. The guitar fed a ProCo RAT distortion pedal before hitting a Marshall JCM800 50‑watt head and a 4×12 cabinet. Engineer Steve Albini’s minimalist mic placement captured the natural breakup of the amp and the pedal’s tight distortion, preserving the raw, mid‑forward tone that defines the track. Santiago’s phrasing combines aggressive down‑strokes with legato sustain, letting the Les Paul’s humbucker ring out while the RAT adds controlled grit.

Reported gear

1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop

Guitar

Joey Santiago recorded his lead parts using a 1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, employing the bridge humbucker for a thick, sustain‑rich tone that cuts through the mix.

ProCo RAT Distortion Pedal (1978)

Distortion pedal

A ProCo RAT distortion pedal was placed between the guitar and amp, adding extra gain and a tight, mid‑focused bite that defines the song’s raw edge.

Marshall JCM800 50‑watt Head (1980s)

Amp

The signal was sent into a Marshall JCM800 50‑watt head, delivering a British‑voiced crunch that drives the riff’s aggressive character.

Marshall 4×12 Cabinet (1980s)

Cabinet

The Marshall 4×12 cabinet with vintage Celestion speakers contributed pronounced mids and a tight low‑end, shaping the track’s powerful sound.

Alternatives

Epiphone Les Paul Standard (2022)

Budget alternative · for the 1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop

$500 to $800

Marshall DSL40C (2021)

Modern equivalent · for the Marshall JCM800 50‑watt Head (1980s)

$1,200 to $1,600

ProCo RAT2 Reissue (2022)

Reissue · for the ProCo RAT Distortion Pedal (1978)

$120 to $150

Marshall 4×12 Cabinet (2020)

Modern equivalent · for the Marshall 4×12 Cabinet (1980s)

$500 to $900

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Select the bridge humbucker on the Les Paul for maximum bite.
2. 2.Set the ProCo RAT’s distortion knob high while keeping the tone knob around the middle.
3. 3.Dial the JCM800’s gain to a moderate level and let the amp’s natural breakup add character.
4. 4.Play the riff with firm down‑strokes and let notes ring, using slight palm‑muting for rhythm clarity.
5. 5.Maintain consistent picking dynamics to keep the amp’s mids forward in the mix.