GuitarDistortedRiff
Another One Bites the Dust Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Queen
Queen · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Homemade Red Special (Brian May's Red Special)
Pickups
Tri-Sonic single-coil pickups (Burns, wired in series, custom modded)
Amp
Vox AC30 (1960s Top Boost, studio modded, no reverb/tremolo)
Pickup Position
Bridge + Middle pickups in series (Red Special, in phase)
Studio recording, 1980. For the riff section, Brian May's guitar is used for noise effects and stabs, but the main riff is played on bass by John Deacon. Guitar parts are minimal and textural. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain4.5
Reverb0
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- dry, no reverb
- slightly gritty
- short, choked notes
- minimal sustain
- focused attack
- no modulation
- sits behind bass in mix
- edge-of-breakup
- not lush or ambient