GuitarDistortedRiff
Bad Love Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Eric Clapton Signature Fender Stratocaster (mid-80s, Lace Sensor Gold pickups, active mid-boost circuit)
Pickups
Fender Lace Sensor Gold single-coils with active mid-boost (25dB, onboard TBX tone control)
Amp
Soldano SLO-100 Super Lead Overdrive head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1989/1990)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (with mid-boost engaged)
Studio recording for 'Journeyman' album (1989), riff section. Clapton used his signature Strat with active mid-boost and a Soldano SLO-100 head, which was his main amp for this era. No evidence of additional pedals for the riff section; overdrive from amp and guitar's mid-boost. Settings based on period-correct interviews and typical usage.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6.5
Gain6
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- thick, mid-forward overdrive
- smooth sustain
- creamy, compressed attack
- articulate pick attack
- tight, focused low end
- singing sustain
- woman tone (tone knob rolled down)
- British-voiced crunch
- touch-sensitive response
- slight reverb for ambience