GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
All Along the Watchtower Guitar Tone Settings
The Jimi Hendrix Experience · 1960s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1967 Fender Stratocaster
Pickups
Fender single-coil pickups (stock 1967 Stratocaster)
Amp
Marshall 100w Super Lead (model 1959, Plexi)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1968. Hendrix used a Stratocaster for the riff section (not the Flying V, which was used for the solo). The amp was a Marshall 100w Super Lead, as confirmed by multiple sources. Effects were minimal in the riff section compared to the solo.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass7.5
Gain4.5
Reverb3.5
Treble5.5
Presence5.5
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- British crunch
- warm and dynamic
- touch-sensitive
- clear note separation
- slightly compressed
- full-bodied mids
- not overly saturated
- classic late-60s rock sound
- edge-of-breakup
- articulate attack
Notes & Caveats
- Amp settings are sourced from a forum post (Source 1) and may not be exact to the studio recording, but are consistent with typical Hendrix/Marshall settings for this era.
- No direct evidence of pedals or effects used in the riff section; fuzz and wah are used in the solo, but the riff is generally clean/crunch with minimal effects.
- Guitar model for the riff is confirmed as Stratocaster; Flying V was used for the solo.
- Reverb setting is likely from studio plate or room, not amp spring reverb, but included for completeness.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Hendrix's 'Watchtower' riff tone is classic late-60s British rock: edge-of-breakup to light crunch, strong mids, slightly boosted bass for warmth, and moderate treble/presence for clarity. Studio reverb is subtle, as most ambience is from the room and tape.