S.I.R #36 APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION - TONEX
During the Appetite for Destruction studio sessions, Slash delivered one of the most iconic guitar tones ever recorded — raw, aggressive, and instantly recognizable. The legendary S.I.R. #36 modded Marshall, often referred to as the infamous “stolen amp,” created a sound that defined hard rock and inspired generations of players.
This is the only ToneX preset you’ll ever need to capture Slash’s S.I.R. #36 Appetite for Destruction studio tone — all the bite, punch, and attitude, ready to drop straight into your setup.
Click the product image to listen to the preset demos.
The rig behind this tone is based on the exact setup used during the Appetite for Destruction recordings — the S.I.R. #36 modded Marshall, carefully dialed in to preserve every detail of its unmistakable sonic character.
This preset captures the raw edge, midrange bite, and explosive energy of the original tone, putting it straight into your hands — without the need to spend thousands on vintage gear that still won’t get you this close.
For decades, this tone has been considered nearly impossible to replicate — even with the exact gear.
The feel, the response, the danger in the sound were always missing. On paper, the rig may have looked simple, but every small detail — every mod, every interaction between components — shaped the tone in critical ways. These “imperfections” are exactly what made the S.I.R. #36 tone so unique.
By analyzing the rig down to the finest details, understanding how the modded amp behaves at recording levels, and recreating its full response, I finally cracked the code.
This is the S.I.R. #36 Appetite for Destruction studio tone — achieved at last, ready for anyone to use.
My ToneX presets are already being used all around the world by professional guitarists on stage and in performances. Don’t just take my word for it — check out the reviews under the “Reviews” tab and see what others are saying.
Things to Know Before You Dive In
Quick, need-to-know details to help you understand how the presets work — so you can get the best results right away
No paid ToneX version required.
You don't need to buy any extra software — just download the free ToneX software, load the presets, and you're ready to play. Also fully compatible with the ToneX ONE pedal, the regular ToneX Pedal, and of course the paid ToneX software.
How to Import the Presets
Open ToneX → go to “Presets” (top left corner) → click it and select “Import” from the drop-down menu, then choose the preset file.
When using the preset, it is important that you select it from the “Presets” tab and not from “Tone Model.” All pre-configured settings have been carefully set up for you and are stored only within the Presets section.
ToneX Through Your Favourite Tube Amp & Cab
My ToneX presets are built for real-world use — whether you're playing through the software only, or running them into an FRFR speaker, or pushing a real cab with a tube power amp for that full analog feel. You can run the ToneX through your tube amp, but do not use the front input — your amp’s gain stage will alter the sound in unintended ways and will vary depending on different backline rigs. So for a clean, uninterrupted, and correctly intended tone, always run it through your amp’s FX loop return.
Power Amp & Cabinet EQ Guidance
Settings on your real power/tube amp will heavily depend on what you’re running the ToneX into and which cabinet is projecting the sound. With that said, there are some general guidelines that will get you very close.
In most cases, you’ll want to push the bass quite a bit, set the mids around halfway or slightly above, keep the treble below halfway, and run the presence very low — close to 0. This creates a balanced tone with plenty of push, similar to the feel of a cranked amp.
Personally, I use a 1987 Marshall Silver Jubilee with either a Snakepit cab or a 1987 V30 cab. My typical EQ settings on the Jubilee are around Bass: 9, Middle: 7, Presence: 0, Treble: 4. This gives me a slightly darker tone, which I prefer.
From there, adjust to taste based on your own rig and playing style.
Important Note on Using Real Cabinets
When running these presets through a power amp or a tube amp into a real guitar cabinet, make sure to keep the IR cabinet enabled. This is extremely important.
The IR is a crucial part of the preset and keeps the intended frequency range and tonal balance intact. Disabling it will significantly alter the sound and remove a big part of what makes the preset work as intended.
Think of the IR as an additional EQ stage applied after the amp, specifically tuned to make everything sit right when hitting a real cabinet.
This is one of my personal tricks — don’t turn it off.
Recommended Input Trim Settings
For the best results with my ToneX presets, make sure to adjust the Input Trim inside the ToneX software or on the pedal itself. Beware that changing your audio interface’s input gain can alter the preset’s tone and dynamics. Keep the interface gain level consistent and low, then fine-tune with Input Trim to lock in the authentic, dialed-in sound the preset was intended for.
My recommended ToneX trim settings would be to set Input Trim at +10.5. Adjust this as needed, as pickup brand and height, different guitars and such matters alot here. I personally have my pickups set pretty low.
Instant Access & Lifetime Re-Download
The moment you buy, your files are delivered instantly with full immediate access — no delays. You’ll always have access to everything you’ve purchased, so you can redownload anytime, whenever you need it.
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