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Bad Penny (Live) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Rory Gallagher
Rory Gallagher · 1980s · blues
live
Original Recording
Guitar
1961 Fender Stratocaster
Pickups
Fender single-coil pickups (original 1961 spec, heavily worn)
Amp
Marshall 1973 JMP 50 Watt Lead Tube Amp (Live at Montreux 1985)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (occasionally switching to bridge+middle for added body)
Live performance, Montreux 1985. Rory Gallagher is visually confirmed using his iconic 1961 Stratocaster and a Marshall JMP 50W head. No evidence of additional amp blending or combo amps for this specific live performance. No studio overdubs; pure live rig.
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass7
Gain5.5
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Hawk II Tonal Expander · boost
Fender Stratocaster → Hawk II Tonal Expander → Marshall JMP 50W (with light spring reverb)
Tone Matcher
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Tone Character
- biting and articulate
- rich midrange presence
- dynamic and touch-sensitive
- singing sustain
- edge-of-breakup crunch
- percussive pick attack
- slightly compressed
- harmonically rich
- open and uncompressed
- raw, organic drive
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp knob settings found for this exact live performance; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JMP usage for Gallagher's live tone and era.
- No explicit pedalboard photo or pedal settings for 'Bad Penny (Live)' riff section; effects inferred from audio and period-correct gear lists.
- Pickup selector inferred from live video footage and typical Rory Gallagher usage; not explicitly stated in sources.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Rory Gallagher's 'Bad Penny (Live)' riff tone is classic edge-of-breakup blues rock, using a cranked Fender or Vox amp with high mids, full bass, and moderate treble for warmth and punch. Presence and reverb are set for clarity and space, matching his signature biting yet rounded live tone.