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Cocaine — Eric Clapton1 / 2
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Cocaine Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton · 1970s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster
Pickups
Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat pickups with TBX tone circuit and mid-boost
Amp
Fender Custom Series '57 Bandmaster (hand-wired, modified by Alexander Dumble for Clapton)
Pickup Position
Position 2 (bridge + middle) or Position 4 (neck + middle); likely bridge + middle for bite during solo

Live performance rig, as used on 'Cocaine' solo; year/era: late 1970s original studio, but this rig is from 2000s-present live shows. Studio version likely used a Stratocaster and Fender amp with similar setup but possibly not the Dumble-modded Bandmaster.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
5
Reverb
3
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95F Wah Wah · wah

Guitar → Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95F Wah → Fender Custom '57 Bandmaster (spring reverb on amp)

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Tone Character

  • singing sustain
  • midrange push
  • smooth, vocal-like wah sweep
  • articulate Strat attack
  • touch-sensitive response
  • clear note separation
  • slightly compressed
  • warm but biting lead tone
  • dynamic, expressive phrasing

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No official studio session settings for 'Cocaine' solo; amp and pedal info is from live rig and interviews, but matches the classic tone.
  • ⚠️Exact pickup selector position is not confirmed in sources; inferred from typical Clapton solo tone and live footage.
  • ⚠️Amp settings are estimated based on typical Fender Bandmaster/Strat setup for this genre and era.
  • ⚠️Pedal settings not specified in sources; wah pedal model confirmed, but knob settings are estimated.
  • ⚠️Studio version may have used a different amp (possibly a Fender Twin or Deluxe), but the Bandmaster is the closest documented match for live and modern performances.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Clapton's 'Cocaine' solo tone is classic late-70s blues rock: edge-of-breakup with a warm, mid-forward character, likely from a Strat into a cranked Fender or tweed-style amp with moderate reverb. The tone is punchy but not overly bright or scooped, with enough gain for sustain but still dynamic and touch-sensitive.

Sources