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Don't Cry — Guns N' Roses1 / 2
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Don't Cry Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Guns N' Roses

Guns N' Roses · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (Slash, studio recording, 1990/91)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro humbuckers
Amp
Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording for 'Use Your Illusion I' (1990/91). Main riff played by Slash on Les Paul through Marshall Silver Jubilee. No evidence of pedals in the riff section; effects are from amp or post-processing. Izzy's clean parts use a Fender Telecaster Thinline through a Fender Bassman, but the main riff is Slash's Les Paul/Marshall setup.

Amp Settings

Mids
6
Bass
5.5
Gain
7
Reverb
2.5
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • edge-of-breakup crunch
  • classic British rock tone
  • open and dynamic
  • warm midrange
  • singing sustain
  • not heavily saturated
  • clear note separation
  • slight amp breakup
  • articulate chord voicings
  • responsive to picking dynamics

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No official studio documentation of exact amp knob positions for the riff section; settings averaged from forum sources and typical Slash/Marshall Silver Jubilee usage.
  • ⚠️Some forum sources provide settings for the solo, not the riff; only riff-specific data used.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals used in the riff section; all effects are amp-based or post-production.
  • ⚠️Izzy Stradlin's clean Telecaster part is not the main riff; this profile is for Slash's Les Paul/Marshall rhythm part.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Slash's 'Don't Cry' riff tone is classic late-80s/early-90s hard rock: a Les Paul through a Marshall with moderate gain, forward mids, balanced bass/treble, and subtle reverb. The tone is crunchy but not overly saturated, with enough presence for clarity and a touch of ambience from studio reverb.

Sources