Real AmpTuning: E StandardPickup: BridgeMost AccurateCrunchBlues
Beggars Banquet Spiked Lead — Black Beauty into AC30
The final arrangement is driven mainly by piano and percussion, leaving Richards' two sharply contrasting guitar solos exposed against the rhythm section. Guitar World identifies a three-pickup Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Vox AC30 as the source of the brittle, bass-light lead tone; exact controls were not preserved, so the settings below are approximated from that chain. Source: Guitar World's Rolling Stones riff feature.
Signal Chain
1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty→Vox AC30→Vox AC30 2x12→Minimal Studio Ambience→Output
Guitar1957 Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty
Tone
9
PickupBridge
TuningE Standard
Volume
10
AmpVox AC30
Cut2
Bass
1
Gain
5
Master
7
Treble
8
Cab / IRVox AC30 2x12
MicClose dynamic
Mic PositionNear the centre, slightly off-axis
EffectMinimal Studio Ambience
Mix
1
Decay1.5
Notes
Set the amplifier far brighter and thinner than a conventional Les Paul tone. Use abrupt phrases, strong pick attack and long gaps rather than filling every bar.
Don't have this gear?
See the same signal chain mapped to another platform. Knob values carry over as starting points — gain ranges differ between platforms.