GuitarDistortedSolo
Bad Love Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Eric Clapton Signature Fender Stratocaster (1988-1989, Lace Sensor Gold pickups, mid-boost circuit)
Pickups
Fender Lace Sensor Gold single coils with active mid-boost circuit
Amp
Soldano SLO-100 Super Lead Overdrive head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1989)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (with mid-boost circuit engaged)
Studio recording for 'Bad Love' (Journeyman, 1989). Clapton used his signature Stratocaster with the mid-boost circuit and a Soldano SLO-100 amp, as confirmed by multiple sources for the Journeyman era. No evidence of wah or fuzz; effects are primarily delay and chorus, as audible in the solo. No evidence of Tube Screamer or Bluesbreaker pedals for this era/track.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb2.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Chorus pedal (model unknown) · chorus
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Guitar → Chorus pedal → Delay pedal → Soldano SLO-100 → Marshall 4x12 cab (studio reverb added in mix)
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Tone Character
- singing sustain
- fat, compressed lead tone
- midrange push from active mid-boost
- smooth, slightly saturated overdrive
- clear articulation on single notes
- touch-sensitive dynamics
- chorus shimmer audible in solo
- delay repeats present in solo
- not high-gain, but more saturated than classic blues
- studio-polished clarity