GuitarCleanRiff
Cliffs of Dover Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1954 Fender Stratocaster (modded, DiMarzio HS-2 bridge pickup, tone wired to bridge and middle)
Pickups
DiMarzio HS-2 single coil (bridge position, Strat wiring mod: tone control on bridge/middle)
Amp
Fender Twin Reverb (studio clean rig, Ah Via Musicom era, 1989 recording)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Strat, DiMarzio HS-2, tone knob engaged)
Studio recording, 1989, clean riff section. Eric Johnson used his 1954 Stratocaster for the clean intro/riff, plugged into a Fender Twin Reverb for the clean tone. The Marshall Super Lead was used for lead/dirty tones, not for the clean riff. Effects included a Maestro EP-3 Echoplex for subtle delay and possibly a compressor for added sustain. No overdrive/distortion pedals were used for the clean part.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain3
Reverb4
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Maestro EP-3 Echoplex · delay
Guitar → Maestro EP-3 Echoplex → Fender Twin Reverb (with spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- glassy and bell-like
- sparkling highs
- articulate and percussive
- warm low end
- touch-sensitive
- slight compression
- no breakup
- subtle tape delay ambience
- studio-quality clean
- dynamic response