How to Dial In "Defying Gravity" by Mr. Big - Guitar Tone Settings
What Mr. Big Actually Used on "Defying Gravity"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Defying Gravity (2017). Defying Gravity is the ninth studio album by American hard rock band Mr. Big, released in 2017. In Guitar World's interview about the album, Paul Gilbert says his basic setup is his Ibanez Fireman guitars, that he sets his amps clean and gets the distortion from pedals, that he used a TC Electronic MojoMojo for the more straight-ahead rock sound on this record and a Catalinbread Karma Suture for some sixties fuzz, and that the amp was a 1959 SLP 100-watt Marshall reissue, run on its bass channel. Most of the album is a single guitar track recorded live in the studio. He also names a Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe on this song. He describes the album as a whole, so the fuzz is left off and the MojoMojo is listed as the board's mainstay. Keep the amp at a light crunch, push it with the overdrive and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "Defying Gravity" Tone
What guitar did Mr. Big use on "Defying Gravity"?
The original guitar for "Defying Gravity" isn't conclusively documented. The settings on this page are calibrated to the recorded tone regardless of which specific guitar you play.
What amp settings does "Defying Gravity" need?
On Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue: Gain 3.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Defying Gravity" without a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Defying Gravity" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
What pedals are on "Defying Gravity"?
The original signal chain for "Defying Gravity" runs through TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Defying Gravity" by Mr. Big are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.