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Boys Don't Cry Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Cure
The Cure · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson ES-175 (single pickup, black, as seen in official music video and period photos)
Pickups
Gibson P-90 single-coil (neck position, likely original spec for ES-175 of this era)
Amp
Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (single P-90, ES-175)
Studio recording, 1979 (Three Imaginary Boys sessions). Guitar and amp confirmed by period video and multiple gear sources. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. Effects are all pedal-based; JC-120 used for its signature clean sound and stereo chorus. Pickup selector: neck position (single pickup model).
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass5
Gain0
Reverb2.5
Treble7.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Boss BF-2 Flanger · flanger
Gibson ES-175 → Boss BF-2 Flanger → Roland JC-120 (minimal spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- bright and jangly
- articulate and clear
- modulation shimmer (chorus/flanger)
- tight and percussive attack
- minimal breakup (very clean)
- slightly scooped mids
- airy and open
- distinct note separation
- subtle stereo width
- crisp high end
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct numeric amp settings found; values estimated based on typical JC-120 settings for 80s post-punk clean tone and genre/era conventions.
- Guitar model and amp are confirmed for this era and song by video and gear sources, but pickup type is inferred from ES-175 specs.
- Pedal settings are not documented; effect types and models are confirmed by multiple sources and audible in the recording.
- No evidence of effects loop or amp-based effects beyond minimal reverb.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The 'Boys Don't Cry' riff is bright, jangly, and clean with just a hint of breakup, typical of late 70s/early 80s post-punk. Robert Smith favored Fender amps and single-coil guitars, so settings emphasize clarity, upper mids, and treble, with restrained bass and subtle spring reverb for space.