Song Rig
Shock Me
Ace Frehley · Love Gun · 1977
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Ace Frehley's self-written KISS track and perhaps his most complete guitar performance — rhythm, fills, and one of the first guitar solos he was fully satisfied with. The tone on the solo is warm, singing, and clear — the Les Paul Custom showing its sustain character to full effect. The rhythm tone is Les Paul/Marshall crunch at its simplest.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson Les Paul Custom
- 2Marshall Super Lead
- 3no effects (pure amp tone)
Amp Settings
Marshall cranked for power amp saturation — the Love Gun era KISS tone is pure Marshall Les Paul, no pedals. The solo has a particular clarity that Ace achieved by using the neck pickup rolled slightly back in volume, giving the amp room to add warmth without muddiness.
Technique
How to Play It
Lead solo: melodic, unhurried, with wide sustained bends — Ace plays each note with conviction, letting the Les Paul's sustain fill the space. The solo builds from low register to high register in a natural arc. This is blues-influenced rock soloing at its most emotionally straightforward.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Les Paul → Marshall JCM800 or equivalent cranked amp → no effects needed. The simplicity is the point: guitar, amp, volume.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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