GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Fade into You Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Mazzy Star
Mazzy Star · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gretsch Electromatic Hawaiian (1940-1943) Lap Steel
Pickups
Single-coil (vintage lap steel type)
Amp
Unknown tube amp (likely Fender or similar, model not confirmed for this recording)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (lap steel, single-coil)
Studio recording, 1993 (album released 1993, recorded 1992-1993). Gear confirmed as used by David Roback, but no explicit amp model or pedalboard for this song's riff section. Lap steel is confirmed for the iconic slide riff.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain3
Reverb7
Treble6
Presence5
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Tone Character
- lush and ambient
- smooth sustain
- slightly gritty edge
- warm and rounded highs
- reverb-drenched
- dreamy and atmospheric
- slide vibrato
- medium dynamic response
- not heavily compressed
- no harsh treble
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit amp model or pedal settings found for the studio recording of 'Fade into You' riff; gear is inferred from confirmed lap steel use and era-typical amp choices.
- No evidence of distortion or overdrive pedals used; overdrive likely from amp pushed to edge of breakup.
- Reverb is a key part of the sound, confirmed use of Lexicon PCM 60 Digital Reverb in Mazzy Star's studio gear, but unclear if used on this exact track or if amp reverb was primary.
- No evidence of delay, chorus, flanger, or other modulation effects on the riff section.
- Settings are estimated based on genre, era, and typical lap steel/amp combinations for dreamy rock.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. David Roback's tone on 'Fade into You' is clean but warm, with a gentle breakup and lush, prominent reverb typical of early '90s dream pop. The amp is likely set just above clean, with mids and bass pushed for warmth, treble and presence kept moderate for smoothness, and reverb set high for the signature ambient wash.