How to Create an 80's Hair Metal Guitar Tone

If you have ever wondered how your favorite 80's artists got that guitar tone? Or if you're in a cover band and you have to play some classic Hair Rock/Metal and have to nail an exact sound, then look no further. Here is a comprehensive demonstration on how to get that classic "80's" sound used by countless artists in that decade. In this demonstration I play excerpts from several 80's songs.
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[@wesgorange8485]

Man it’s the gated reverb that really captures the 80s sound. Had no idea. Thanks!

[@Mrav79]

You're missing the next step IMO, a lot of the 80's hair metal, heavy metal, glam rock sounds had modulation like chorus, phaser, flanger etc.e.g. Somewhere in Time era Maiden.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

This is true, my bad 🤔

[@Mrav79]

@@JasonAyalaSpare no worries, theme for new video :)

[@numbers7889]

Yes! The ce-5 does a good job at this. It’s probably one of the best chorus pedals that can handle dirty distortion sounds. Include that in the mix and it sounds hella 80’s.

[@ranadhirbiswas4095]

Man I loved the track in the beginning! Make a whole track with a solo

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Thanks, I'm glad you appreciated it!

[@dextermorgan1757]

@@JasonAyalaSpare can you use a boss super overdrive pedal for hair metal or a tube screamer cuz as a '80s enthusiast need to know

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

@@dextermorgan1757 they're pretty much the same thing. Some guys used the TS, some used the SD-1.

[@ismaelrivera9206]

Great video. One of the best pedal demos and explanations I've seen in a while.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I'm planning on doing an ultimate 80s rig soon.

[@xavierortiz2690]

I remember a friend showing me how to play Ain't Talkin Bout Love that way in 1982,lm going back and trying to get that 80's tone lately,especially early 80's.Keep up the the content!

[@hernancortes4197]

thats what i been looking for so many time, thanks, im a begginer otherwise your video help me a lot to build a good 80s hair metal sound.

[@ce152capt100]

Good video. Helpful. Chuckeled at the end.

[@TheoneStanband]

That opening put a smile on my face!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

S/Kidd Mark may make a cameo again sometime.

[@JessAlexandraBeauty]

Omg LOVE THIS

[@SpineTicks]

Great video, thanks!

[@samueltractorton2088]

Kickass! I also like the gated reverb, gonna try it out.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

It was all the rage back then.

[@rasyfopeh2977]

Awesome love it.

[@ryancampbell5246]

Approved - Def Leppard t-shirt at the beginning

[@darklight4815]

Excellent tones broseph 🤘💀🤘

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Thanks

[@user-nu7xx7pc1d]

great video and playing!!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Thanks. I just did an updated version of this video.

[@Delta1up.]

Don't think I've ever seen anyone ever play Ain't Talking Bout Love quite like that lol Great video, many thanks!

[@markrogers7304]

No joke. Odd way for sure

[@Imokyourok440]

Thank you for explaining gated reverb. I bought a fully functional Quadraverb GT at the pawn shop for less than 100 bucks. It goes well with my ADA MP1. It has gated reverb!! Now I can have fun with it!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Have fun with it.

[@80-s_Rock]

Great video man, Even Van Halen riffs nice! I want these pedals now haha

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

I was unaware that Marshall was still making effects pedals. Really cool video! 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

They are, but the unit in this video hasn't been made for 25 years

[@geschichtenschreiber]

Damn, I gotta have that Marshall box.

[@Martin-dq1wv]

Nice video

[@JoeR203]

I want Vito Bratta's tone from the song "Little Fighter". That solo tone sounds so crisp.

[@svenzia]

Dang what a fine player he was.

[@paulhatcher9767]

My opinion there is no music that was as great as good, great or better than the Hair Band era. As far as country music the same time area was the best. Some of the grunge era was OK, but the Hair Band still is my play list.

[@ToyotaCamroad]

Great tone def kiks

[@fattony638]

Love that Def Leppard / Van Halen tone \m/

[@zandig666]

I remember round 86 most bands were switching to rackmount stuff I remember seeing Iron maiden in 86 and this was the case

[@TheoneStanband]

I love def leppard! I have all their albums on cassette!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I saw them a couple of years ago on the Hysteria 30th anniversary tour.

[@forgottentraditions3448]

Thank you Middle Aged Gear Junkie for this lovely lesson. I appreciate all your efforts. Unfortunately Drive Master is not available in India. We have other pedals from Marshall. By the way is it Van Halen @ 7:00?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Hey there, If you get the Marshall GV2 that should do the job pretty well. (yes it was an attempt a Van Halen)

[@geschichtenschreiber]

You can find the pedals online. I found a couple. Best deal I could find was $150. It looked brand new. It was worth every penny.

[@santiagoreynoso8600]

the video is very good

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Thank you

[@r4v3nner]

I'm using a ZOOM multifx, can I also get a nice distortion? It has a (an emulation of:) Suhr riot reloaded, Rat, DS-1, Pal 800, the rest are low gain/boosters (the list is not complete because I do not know the true names of the others distortion pedals).

[@r4v3nner]

what's the amp settings best for 80s hair metal?😊

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

There were also a lot of chorus or flanger, but mostly chorus since it's more linear and usable for every application: clean, distorted Rhytm and distorted leads.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Yes there was, some guitarists believed that chorus helped to make their guitars sound double tracked live. I did a video on 80's clean tones in which I put heavy emphasis on chorus.

[@jimgrazulis8245]

Use Chorus before dirt to get that 80s swirl and thickening effect.

[@dextermorgan1757]

As a '80s hair metal enthusiast starting a hair metal band I needed this also I'm wondering can a tube screamer be good for hair metal if not what about a boss blues driver or super overdrive pedal from boss

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

The SD-1 was used as a booster, the key to that sound is the Marshall pedal. There are many pedals on the market that can do that type of tone. Personally I'd go with the MI Crunch Box.

[@austinfailz]

You could try a Smiletone Governor's Blues, which is basically a Guv'nor and Bluesbreaker in one pedal. The Bluesbreaker sound react like adding an additional preamp tube, which was a common modification in the 80s to JMP andJCM800 amps.

[@slash8742]

What are the settings on the amp???

[@Soldano999]

You double tracked your guitars ? that sounds good.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I did a more recent video called The Ultimate 80s Guitar Rig For Home where I got even better tones.

[@ladjodjo4245]

I really wonder how you set up the delay. How many ms and how did you dial "feedback" and "time" knob of your Boss? Could an all analog delay do the job as well?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I actually proffer analog delay for this purpose because it's not an exact replication. When it comes to setting the delay time I went for quarter notes (crotchets) with about 3 or 4 repeats. Best way to do it is to trust your ears.

[@ladjodjo4245]

@@JasonAyalaSpare Thanks for your reply! Do you recommend any analog unit? I have no idea for which to go, because I never owned one so far and don't want to try one after the other. Some say most analog delays are "darkening" the sound (killing highs and high mids). By the way: Do I need a tap-tempo-function?

[@URTH-yb5xh]

🤩🎸💎

[@musicman76]

Were you playing through that 68 custom deluxe reverb. If so what was treble and bass set to?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Treble at 7, bass at 6

[@musicman76]

@@JasonAyalaSpare thank you!

[@ontherhodes8088]

You obviously love your Boss pedals Jason.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

They work for this video. The Drivemaster is the most important on this board.

[@billydelacruz1500]

Growing up in the 80's, Boss and MXR, were really the only options I had growing up and gigging! Electro Harmonix would advertise in Circus and Creem magazine but nobody carried them locally even though they were made the next state over lol!

[@Skiroy]

What tuning were you in?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Tuned down to Eb standard

[@JesseLeeKing]

What was the virtuoso song?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Always With Me Always With You

[@marcmarton530]

I have to know what Pickups are These ?🤔

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Seymour Duncan hotrodded set

[@ALLMETAL1970]

My 80s metal tone using nux mighty 20bt Metal channel 1 Gain: 75% Treble: 40% Mids: 70% Bass: 60% Reverb hall: mix 70% decay 45%

[@darrenjs_]

I really want a marshall drive master except there kinda hard to find. Is there any other marshall pedals that could work?

[@darrenjs_]

Also, could I use a rat as a replacement? It sounds very similar.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Yes you could use a RAT, if you want that Drivemaster tone you could use a MI Audio Crunch Box or a JHS Angry Charlie. There is also the Marshall Guvnor 2 which is cheaper.

[@darrenjs_]

@@JasonAyalaSpare alright, thanks! I'll do some research

[@austinfailz]

Eh, the Drivemaster is a bit differen than a Guv'nor, primary with the clipping, which is silicon diodes, rather than LEDs like the Guv'nor has. They clip differently than LEDs.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I didn't know that, thanks

[@slayer2008]

Nope, that's not true. The Drivemaster replaced the Guv'nor and it is basically exactly the same as the Guv'nor minus the FX Loop. It has LEDs as well. Marshall Shredmaster from the same series of pedals is the one with Silicon Diodes. There are lots of photos of the Drivemaster PCB online which show multiple LEDs.

[@adakhochalai]

Chorus and compression 🗜 is is what u need... Never the less great

[@chesteruwu125]

I only got a Marshall jackhammer pedal 😢

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

The Jackhammer is decent

[@sabognaako363]

Whats the song in 7:01??

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

@@sabognaako363 It's my way of playing Ain't Talking About Love, I've already been told that I play it wrong 😄

[@sabognaako363]

@@JasonAyalaSpare but its good its amazing

[@donharrold1375]

“That sounds like AC/DC” - Nope too much gain I’d say.

[@ardasakar6271]

it sounds more like mötley crüe

[@sebastianschmidt6136]

Riff name 6:30 ?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

The trooper (sort of)

[@sebastianschmidt6136]

@@JasonAyalaSpare Thanks! and the next one? Last question, sorry :p!

[@mcfek7575]

Riff at 6:48?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Gods of War (Def Leppard)

[@nevadapack1031]

Hell yea more 80s 🎶🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘😀