🎸 Metal · 1980s

In My Dreams by Dokken (Riff · Distorted) — Guitar Tone

by Dokken · riff

The In My Dreams by Dokken guitar tone is built on a Marshall JCM800 2203, dialed in at gain 7.5/10, bass 6, mid 5.5, treble 7, presence 6.5 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

🎛️ These settings are for the original rig — re-dial them for YOUR amp in 10 seconds. Free, no signup →

Amp settings (0–10)

7.5

GAIN

BASS

5.5

MID

TREBLE

6.5

PRESENCE

1.5

REVERB

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

How these settings compare

Measured against the 284 metal tones in our researched catalog: Gain 7.5 sits right around the metal average (7.3); mids at 5.5 are right around average (5.2).

Guitar controls

8-10

VOLUME

7-8

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, custom shop, 1985-86 era) · Amp: Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W, likely modded, 1980s)

Studio recording for 'In My Dreams' (1985/1986), Under Lock and Key album. George Lynch is known to have used his ESP Kamikaze with a Duncan Screamin' Demon and a Marshall JCM800 for Dokken's mid-80s recordings. No direct source confirms pedals for this specific riff, but period-correct interviews and audio evidence suggest a Tube Screamer-type boost was likely used. No evidence of chorus, delay, or flanger on the riff section.

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ Marshall JCM800 songs & tones →🎚️ Marshall songs & tones →🎚️ humbucker guitars songs & tones →🎚️ single-coil guitars songs & tones →🎚️ Tube Screamer songs & tones →🎚️ Seymour Duncan pickups songs & tones →

Don’t own this gear? GuitarToneAdapt re-creates the sound on the rig you actually have.

Pickups

Bridge pickup

Signal chain

ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, custom shop, 1985-86 era) → Overdrive pedal (Tube Screamer-type, model unknown) → Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W, likely modded, 1980s)

Effects

overdrive, reverb

Amp effects: Reverb (spring, level 2)

Tone character

tight and percussive, aggressive midrange bite, saturated high-gain rhythm, articulate note separation, crisp treble edge, slightly scooped but present mids, controlled feedback, focused, punchy low end, minimal ambience, palm-muted chug

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, medium tempo, loud dynamics · high-gain distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the In My Dreams sound.

Difficulty

3.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires tight palm muting, precise picking, and maintaining clarity under high-gain settings, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.

Worth knowing

No direct source provides exact amp or pedal settings for the 'In My Dreams' riff; values estimated based on typical 1980s Marshall JCM800 usage for Dokken and George Lynch's known rig.
No evidence of chorus, delay, or flanger on the riff section; only high-gain rhythm tone is audible.
Pedal use (Tube Screamer-type boost) is inferred from era, genre, and Lynch's known practices, not explicitly confirmed for this song.
Pickup and amp models are confirmed for the era but not for this specific session; high confidence based on multiple interviews and period photos.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. George Lynch's tone on 'In My Dreams' is classic mid-80s LA metal: high gain but not oversaturated, tight low end, slightly scooped mids, and bright but not harsh treble. He typically used a Marshall JCM800 boosted with an overdrive, with minimal reverb and a present, cutting sound that sits well in the mix.

⚡ Same tone, YOUR gear — re-dials the gain & EQ for your amp and pickups, free →

🎸 All In My Dreams guitar tones — every part & section →

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In My Dreams guitar tone — FAQ

What amp settings do I need for the In My Dreams guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 7.5, bass 6, mid 5.5, treble 7, presence 6.5, reverb 1.5. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the In My Dreams tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: ESP Kamikaze (George Lynch signature, custom shop, 1985-86 era) · Amp: Marshall JCM800 2203 (100W, likely modded, 1980s); overdrive, reverb.

Can I get the In My Dreams tone on a different guitar or amp?

Yes. Different guitars and amps need different knob positions to sound the same. GuitarToneAdapt models pickup output and wood brightness, then compensates so you match the record on your own rig.

How do I sound like Dokken on In My Dreams — what gear and pedals?

Start with Bridge pickup, the amp EQ above (gain 7.5, bass 6, mid 5.5, treble 7, presence 6.5, reverb 1.5), and overdrive, reverb. Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.

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Sources

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