GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Crying Lightning Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Starcaster (Jamie Cook, main riff section)
Pickups
Fender Wide Range Humbuckers
Amp
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2009 (Humbug era). Jamie Cook is confirmed using the Fender Starcaster in the 'Crying Lightning' music video and during the Humbug sessions. The Roland JC-120 is listed as his main amp for this album. No evidence of live/tour substitutions for the studio recording.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain5.5
Reverb2.5
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- clear and punchy semi-hollowbody attack
- mid-forward crunch with tight lows
- articulate note separation
- slightly compressed, dynamic response
- subtle chorus-like shimmer from amp
- touch of amp reverb for space
- no heavy fuzz or high-gain
- percussive, riff-driven sound
- warm but not muddy
- distinct, modern British rock flavor
Notes & Caveats
- No direct amp knob settings found; values estimated based on Roland JC-120 typical settings for rock crunch and genre/era.
- Pedal/effects information for the riff section is inferred from gear lists and audio; no explicit pedalboard photo for this song section.
- Jamie Cook's Starcaster and JC-120 are confirmed for 'Crying Lightning' video and Humbug sessions, but exact pickup position is inferred from typical riff tone and video hand position.
- No evidence of additional drive/distortion pedals for the riff section; main crunch likely from amp and humbuckers.
- If alternate sources suggest Alex Turner played the riff live, this does not apply to the studio recording.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The 'Crying Lightning' riff features a crunchy, mid-forward British rock tone typical of Alex Turner's use of Vox or Fender amps with moderate gain and pronounced mids. The tone is tight and punchy with subtle ambience, matching the production style and gear choices of the Humbug era.