Slash

• Use the Les Paul bridge pickup for the classic Slash crunch
• Crank the amp — Marshall distortion comes from the amp, not pedals
• Keep the bass and treble moderate, boost the mids
• Let notes sustain naturally — avoid over-playing
• Use the wah expressively for solos, parked for rhythm texture
• Tune to Eb standard (half step down) — Slash plays in Eb, which adds warmth to the Les Paul and makes heavy strings more comfortable
• Hold the pick almost perpendicular to the strings at a slight angle — the firm, angled attack gives Slash's notes their distinctive initial "thwack" before the sustain blooms
• Don't scoop the mids on the Marshall even though it's tempting — Slash's cut in a band mix comes from the mid-forward voicing, not scooped highs and lows
• Dial in gain until open chord strums start to sustain and feedback slightly — that ringing sustain on the verge of feedback is the Slash sweet spot

Slash's tone is the gold standard of hard rock — a Les Paul into a Marshall, saturated with crunch and singing with natural sustain. Raw, aggressive and always musical.