🎸 Metal · 1980s

Breaking the Law (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

by Judas Priest · riff

The Breaking the Law by Judas Priest guitar tone is built on a Marshall Super Lead, dialed in at gain 7/10, bass 6, mid 4.5, treble 6.5, presence 6 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

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Amp settings (0–10)

7
GAIN
6
BASS
4.5
MID
6.5
TREBLE
6
PRESENCE
1.5
REVERB

Community-researched baseline. Your rig is different — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials every knob for your specific guitar, amp and pickups.

Original gear

Amp: Marshall Super Lead (high gain, tight)

Pickups

bridge (DiMarzio Super Distortion)

Effects / signal chain

distortion

Tone character

tight high-gain metal, aggressive & articulate, hot humbucker, British

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

tight high-gain British metal distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Breaking the Law sound.

What makes the Breaking the Law part tricky

simple power-chord riff, palm muting, timing. GuitarToneAdapt gets the tone right so you can focus on the playing.

Note: Breaking the Law is tight, high-gain British metal — a Marshall Super Lead with a hot bridge humbucker (DiMarzio Super Distortion). Slightly scooped mids, tight low end, aggressive but clear. Higher gain than ’70s Sabbath but still articulate., Use a hot bridge humbucker into a cranked Marshall-style amp, scoop the mids a touch, keep the low end tight, palm-mute. High but controlled gain., Settings are community-researched starting points, not official recall sheets.

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Settings are community-researched estimates, not official. GuitarToneAdapt adapts them to your gear. guitartoneadapt.com