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Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry) guitar tone and amp settings

Johnny B. Goode guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3: Pushed amp type, low gain (Gain 4), bright top (Treble 7), balanced lows (Bass 4), bridge pickup.

Settings for your amp

Pick a reference amp

The song has distinct sounds: Intro. Each rig below lists what to change for them.

Johnny B. Goode settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3 settings for every song

These settings play the intro.

AmpBOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

VariationOff
Amp TypePushed
Gain4
Volume5Sets the amp section level and response
Bass4
Middle6
Treble7
Booster0
Mod0
FX0
Delay0
Reverb0
Set to your roomMaster
Set to your roomPower Control

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output for a firm, lively amp response
Tone8
The same settings in text

Amp

Variation
Off
Amp Type
Pushed
Gain
4
Volume
5
Bass
4
Middle
6
Treble
7
Booster
0
Mod
0
FX
0
Delay
0
Reverb
0
Master
Set to your room
Power Control
Set to your room

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
8

Johnny B. Goode settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40

Positive Grid Spark 40 settings for every song

These settings play the intro.

AmpPositive Grid Spark 40

Amp TypeCrunch
Gain3.5
Bass4
Mid6.5
Treble6.5
Set to your roomMaster
Mod0
Delay0
Reverb1
Set to your roomOutput

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output for a lively amp response.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Amp Type
Crunch
Gain
3.5
Bass
4
Mid
6.5
Treble
6.5
Master
Set to your room
Mod
0
Delay
0
Reverb
1
Output
Set to your room

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7

A P-90-equipped guitar would better match Berry’s ES-350T.

Johnny B. Goode settings on a Fender Mustang LT25

Fender Mustang LT25 settings for every song

These settings play the intro.

AmpFender Mustang LT25

Amp Model50S TWINin the menu
Gain3.5
Volume6Sets preset level; adjust for a balanced output.
Treble7
Bass4
Middle5.5in the menu
Set to your roomMaster
StompNonein the menu
ModNonein the menu
DelayNonein the menu
ReverbNonein the menu

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output keeps the riff lively and responsive.
Tone8
The same settings in text

Amp

Amp Model
50S TWIN
Gain
3.5
Volume
6
Treble
7
Bass
4
Middle
5.5
Master
Set to your room
Stomp
None
Mod
None
Delay
None
Reverb
None

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
8

Johnny B. Goode settings on any amp with Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble

These settings play the intro.

Amp

Gain3.5
Bass4
Mid6
Treble7

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output for a firm, lightly driven amp response
Tone8
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
3.5
Bass
4
Mid
6
Treble
7

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
8
The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

Chuck Berry played the opening riff of Johnny B. Goode on an electric Gibson ES-350T. The guitar used on the song was his 1955 ES-350T, which had a P-90 pickup, while a later 1958 ES-350T of his had a humbucker instead.

What gear did Chuck Berry use on Johnny B. Goode?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

Chuck Berry

Guitar
Gibson ES-350T[2]
Pickup
P-90[2]

Chuck Berry · Intro

Guitar
Gibson ES-350T[1]
  • Intro: Guitar World says the song's opening riff was played by Berry on an electric Gibson ES-350T. (on this song)[1]
  • Guitar.com says Berry used the 1955 ES-350T on Johnny B. Goode, among his other hits. (on this song)[2]
  • Charles Berry Jr. said his father's original 1955 ES-350T had a P-90 pickup, and a 1958 ES-350T had a humbucker. (on this song)[2]

Questions

What gear did Chuck Berry use on Johnny B. Goode?

The sources on this page document Chuck Berry's gear on Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry: guitar, Gibson ES-350T [2]; pickup, P-90 [2]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the Johnny B. Goode settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3?

For the Johnny B. Goode guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3, set Amp Type Pushed, Gain 4, Volume 5, Bass 4, Middle 6, Treble 7, Booster 0, Mod 0, FX 0, Delay 0, Reverb 0; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 8. Set Master and Power Control to your room. These settings play the intro. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Johnny B. Goode settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40?

For the Johnny B. Goode guitar tone on a Positive Grid Spark 40, set Amp Type Crunch, Gain 3.5, Bass 4, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Mod 0, Delay 0, Reverb 1; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 7. Set Master and Output to your room. These settings play the intro. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Johnny B. Goode settings on a Fender Mustang LT25?

For the Johnny B. Goode guitar tone on a Fender Mustang LT25, set Amp Model 50S TWIN, Gain 3.5, Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 4, Middle 5.5, Stomp None, Mod None, Delay None, Reverb None; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 8. Set Master to your room. These settings play the intro. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

Can I get the Johnny B. Goode tone on my own amp?

Yes. The settings above cover 3 reference amps and any amp with the basic controls. For your exact rig, KnobMaster, an iPhone app, sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for Johnny B. Goode, using only the controls your gear has.

Get it for your exact rig

KnobMaster sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for this song.

Download KnobMaster on the App Store