Song Rig

Cold Gin

Ace Frehley · Kiss · 1974

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

The debut album opener's longest track — Ace uses his Les Paul/Marshall combination for a boogie blues riff that shows the influence of Cream and the British blues scene on early Kiss. The tone is slightly rawer than later Kiss recordings, reflecting the low-budget 1974 production and the live-in-studio approach.

Signal Chain

1Gibson Les Paul (1974, standard humbuckers)
2Marshall Super Lead 100W
3No effects — raw and direct

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume7

Bass6

Mid7

Treble7

Presence7

Early Marshall tone without the refinements of the later rigs — the 1974 Kiss debut was recorded simply and quickly. The Marshall and Les Paul interaction produces the warm, slightly fuzzy overdrive characteristic of early 1970s British-influenced rock.

Technique

How to Play It

Rock and roll boogie riff derived from Chuck Berry and Cream — the Cold Gin main riff is built on the same blues boogie vocabulary as countless 1960s rock songs, but played at slightly higher gain and with more sustained notes.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Les Paul → Marshall JCM800 or Origin at medium-high gain → no effects. The 1974 Kiss tone is simpler to replicate than the elaborate stage show suggested.

Your Gear