Bon Jovi · Album, 2007
Lost Highway
13 sourced items across 2 sectionsReported13
This is an album-level record: the sources describe how the album as a whole was recorded, not one song. Where a detail belongs to a single song, the row says so.
Songs this record stands for: (You Want To) Make a Memory. We found nothing specific to this song, so this album record is the closest account we have.
What the sources do and do not say
Single Mix Classic-Tracks style session sheet with engineer Mark Hagen quoted. Vocal chain is stated for this song; guitar rig is described for the Lost Highway sessions generally, so marked album-level. Spellings Ecstacy and Chieftan follow the article (likely Ecstasy and Chieftain); the article says 'Neve U67s' but lists Neumann U67.
Lead vocal
3 items
Jon Bon Jovi
Microphone
The real chain
Neumann M49
ReportedOne song
Captured Jon Bon Jovi's lead vocal on this single, from the near-whispered first verse to the finale.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Input chain
The real chain
RFT Lorenz
ReportedOne song
Vintage microphone preamplifier between the M49 and the compressor on the lead vocal; Hagen believes it dates from 1950s East Germany.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Covers this kind of unit
Arturia Pre V76
preamp and EQ
Models the Telefunken V76, a German broadcast valve mic preamp of the same decade and purpose; it is not a model of this unit.
Also worth a look 1
- Universal Audio V76 Preamplifier (Also a V76 model, covering the same 1950s German valve preamp family; it is not a model of this unit and needs Universal Audio hardware to run)
The real chain
Empirical Labs Distressor
ReportedOne song
Compressor after the preamp on the lead vocal, described as being driven hard, before the signal reached Pro Tools.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Emulation of this unit
Universal Audio Empirical Labs EL8 Distressor
compressor
Model of the Distressor made with Empirical Labs.
Also worth a look 1
- Empirical Labs Arousor (Empirical Labs' own plugin, built on the Distressor design rather than copying one unit)
Guitars
10 items
Richie Sambora
Amplifier
The real chain
Bogner Ecstacy
Reported
Amplifier head used for Richie Sambora's guitar tracks, paired with a Bogner 4x12 cabinet.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
The real chain
Bogner 4x12 cabinet
Reported
Cabinet driven by the Bogner head for Sambora's guitar tracks.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
The real chain
Matchless Chieftan
Reported
Second amplifier head used for Sambora's guitar tracks, paired with a Matchless 2x12 cabinet.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
The real chain
Matchless 2x12 cabinet
Reported
Cabinet driven by the Matchless head for Sambora's guitar tracks.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
Covers this kind of unit
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
amp and cabinet simulator
An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear.
Also worth a look 1
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro (An amp and cabinet simulator that covers a wide range of amplifiers and speaker cabinets of this kind. It is not a model of this unit, so pick the nearest one in it by ear)
Microphone
The real chain
Shure SM57
Reported
One of two close microphones on each guitar cabinet, combined with a Royer R-121 to shape the cabinet tone.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model. The SM57 is still made and inexpensive: the real thing is the practical route.
The real chain
Royer R-121
Reported
Second microphone alongside an SM57 on each guitar cabinet, used for shaping the cabinet tone.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
The real chain
Neumann U 67
Reported
Pair of ambience microphones for the guitar cabinets.
- Position
- Stereo X/Y pair, about 15-20 feet from the cabinets
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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No plugin suggested. Microphone-modelling plugins only work with their own matched hardware microphone, so there is no plugin to link. Placement and the room matter more than the model.
Input chain
The real chain
Neve 8078
Reported
Its preamps took the two ambience microphone signals before the compressors.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Approximate
Waves NLS Non-Linear Summer
console emulation
A console-summing plugin that includes one Neve desk. It gives a Neve flavour, not this console's channels.
The real chain
Neve 2253
Reported
Pair of compressors following the preamps on the ambience microphone signals.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
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Close match
Universal Audio Neve Dynamics Collection (33609)
compressor
Models Neve's later diode-bridge limiter/compressors, direct descendants of the 2253.
The real chain
Little Labs PCP Distro
Reported
Signal distribution box featured in the elaborate routing scheme used for Sambora's two-amp guitar tone.
Source: Mix, accessed 15 Nov 2026
Get the sound · our suggestion
No plugin suggested. This is a splitter that sends one guitar to several amplifiers; it routes the signal rather than shaping it, so there is nothing for a plugin to stand in for.
Sources
- "You Want To Make A Memory" Bon Jovi, Mix, 2007-05. Accessed 15 Nov 2026.
What the ratings mean
Stated by the engineer, producer or artist, or by the manufacturer.
Stated by a reputable secondary source.
An educated suggestion, not a documented fact.
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