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Suede·Social·Issue No. 20
Tone recipes·2026 · JUL
Rock1987

01Whitesnake

Still of the Night

Tight, percussive high-gain rhythm tone with searing solo lead. Hot-rodded Marshall with EQ pushed in the upper mids — that 'JCM800 modified by Lee Jackson' sound. The rhythm has chunk on the low E but never gets boomy; the lead has presence without being shrill. Pinch harmonics ring like bells. Heavy reliance on the bridge humbucker's natural compression at the speaker.

02Signal chain

Guitar to amp, 2 pedals between.

  1. In
    Guitar

    Gibson Les Paul Custom (black, with EMG-81 in the bridge)

  2. 01
    On the clean breakdown section for that pulsing motion
    MXR M101 Phase 90

    Speed: noon

  3. 02
    Solo boost into the front of the JCM800
    Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer

    Drive: 9 o'clock, Tone: 1 o'clock, Level: 3 o'clock

  4. Out
    Amp

    Marshall JCM800 2203 modified by Lee Jackson

03Field note

The secret sauce

The amp is the tone — a Lee Jackson modified JCM800 has more gain and tighter low end than stock. Without that mod (or a modern equivalent like a Friedman BE-100) you can't get the chug to sound this controlled.