GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Cocaine Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (1970s, likely stock or early Eric Clapton signature with Lace Sensor pickups and mid-boost circuit)
Pickups
Fender Lace Sensor single-coils with active mid-boost circuit
Amp
Fender Custom Series '57 Bandmaster Tube Hand-Wired Guitar Combo Amplifier (Dumble-modded for Clapton, used in studio and live for this era)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (with mid-boost circuit engaged)
Studio recording, 1977 (Slowhand album). Guitar is a Stratocaster with mid-boost circuit, amp is a Fender '57 Bandmaster combo (Dumble-modded). No evidence of pedals on the original studio riff section; wah is used live and in solos but not on the studio riff. All gear and settings specific to the original studio recording, not live performances.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6.5
Gain5
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence5
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
- creamy and saturated
- warm and vocal-like
- articulate and punchy
- mid-forward with thick presence
- touch-sensitive dynamics
- classic rock crunch
- slightly compressed
- not overly bright
- smooth sustain
- subtle amp reverb adding depth
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit studio pedal use for the riff section found; wah is used live and in solos, not on the original studio riff.
- Amp settings are from Guitar World and are typical for Clapton's 1970s Bandmaster setup; presence is estimated based on amp type and era.
- Guitar model is inferred from multiple sources referencing Clapton's use of Stratocasters with mid-boost circuit in this era.
- No evidence of delay, chorus, flanger, or phaser on the studio riff; only amp spring reverb is present.
- If you want the live tone or solo section, gear and effects may differ (e.g., wah pedal use).
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Clapton's 'Cocaine' riff features a warm, edge-of-breakup tone typical of late 70s blues-rock, likely using a Strat into a mid-pushed Fender or tweed-style amp with moderate bass and treble, and subtle spring reverb for space. The tone is punchy but not overly distorted, with forward mids and a touch of ambience.