Classic Rock1987Appetite for Destruction

Paradise City Amp Settings

by Guns N' Roses

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Original Recording Settings

EstimatedResearched tone data for "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses

Original Gear

Guitar: Kris Derrig-built 1959-style Les Paul replica
Pickups: PAF-style Les Paul humbuckers (neck for the intro/clean passages, bridge for the heavier sections)
Amplifier: Rented 100-watt Marshall half-stack (Appetite-era SIR/Marshall family)
Channel: single channel, gain moderated with guitar volume
Tuning: standard
Pickup Selector: neck for intro passages, bridge for overdriven sections
Strings: 0.010-0.046 (estimated)

Slash has directly tied Appetite overdubs to the Derrig Les Paul through a rented 100-watt Marshall half-stack. The intro tone is estimated as the same rig cleaned up with pickup choice, guitar volume, and subtle modulation.

Amp Settings

Gain

5.0

Bass

4.0

Mid

6.0

Treble

6.0

Presence

5.0

Master Volume

6.0

Volume

6.0

Exact Paradise City settings were not located. Values are estimated from Slash's Appetite-era rented 100-watt Marshall setup, balancing enough gain for the main song with enough clarity for the intro when the neck pickup and guitar volume are backed off.

Effects Chain

→

Studio chorus (subtle)

chorus

→

Dunlop Cry Baby

wah

→

1.Studio chorus (subtle) — Estimated to recreate the lightly widened clean intro texture commonly associated with the recording.

2.Dunlop Cry Baby — Slash has cited occasional Cry Baby use for Appetite leads; included as an era-correct lead effect rather than a constant rhythm effect.

Playing Technique

Use even, articulate picking for the intro arpeggios and keep the strings cleanly separated. As the song opens up, switch to firmer attack and let the Marshall push back without over-compressing the notes.

Sources+

Guitar World (2023) - Slash on his love of Les Pauls; states the Derrig Les Paul and rented 100-watt Marshall half-stack defined Appetite overdubs.
Premier Guitar (2010) - The Legend of Slash's Appetite for Destruction Les Paul; documents the Kris Derrig replica as the key Appetite guitar.
Wikipedia - Appetite for Destruction metadata and album context.