TonesMatch
Brown Sugar — The Rolling Stones1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence

Brown Sugar Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones · 1970s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1953 Fender Telecaster 'Micawber' (5-string, open G tuning, humbucker in neck, single-coil in bridge)
Pickups
Neck: Gibson PAF humbucker, Bridge: Fender lap steel single-coil
Amp
Fender Bassman AB165
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Fender lap steel single-coil)

Studio recording, Muscle Shoals sessions, 1970. Keith Richards played the main riff on 'Micawber' Telecaster in open G tuning, plugged into a Fender Bassman AB165 amp. No evidence of pedals or outboard effects on the riff section. Settings estimated based on typical Bassman use for classic rock rhythm in studio context.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
5
Reverb
1
Treble
7
Presence
6

Tone Matcher

Match This Tone to Your Gear

Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.

Adapt to MY Gear →

7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.

Tone Character

  • bright and biting
  • chimey and percussive
  • tight midrange focus
  • slightly gritty edge-of-breakup
  • articulate string separation
  • dynamic and responsive
  • minimal sustain
  • open and clear
  • classic Telecaster twang
  • no audible effects coloration

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No specific numeric amp knob settings found in sources; settings estimated based on typical Fender Bassman use for classic rock rhythm in studio.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or effects used on the riff section; all sources and audio indicate straight guitar-to-amp signal.
  • ⚠️Pickup choice inferred from 'Micawber' Telecaster's typical use and open G tuning for this song.
  • ⚠️If alternate gear (e.g., Gibson SG) is cited in some sources, this refers to other parts or live performances, not the main riff studio recording.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Keith Richards used a Telecaster into a cranked Tweed or early Marshall, set for edge-of-breakup crunch with strong mids and a slightly bright, punchy tone. The recording is dry with little reverb, and the tone is classic British rock with forward mids and moderate treble, matching the Stones' early '70s sound.

Sources