GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Far Beyond the Sun Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Yngwie Malmsteen
Yngwie Malmsteen · 1980s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (1970s, scalloped fretboard, likely stock or DiMarzio HS-3 single coil in bridge)
Pickups
Single-coil (Fender or DiMarzio HS-3, bridge position)
Amp
Marshall 1959 Super Lead (Plexi, late 1960s/early 1970s, 100W head)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1984. Used for the 'Rising Force' album. Overdrive from DOD 250 pedal into Marshall Plexi, Stratocaster with scalloped fretboard. No evidence of other guitars or amps for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain8
Reverb2.5
Treble7.5
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 · overdrive
Fender Stratocaster → DOD Overdrive Preamp 250 → Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi (with plate reverb)
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Tone Character
- bright and articulate
- tight and percussive
- singing sustain
- aggressive pick attack
- very clear note separation
- fast alternate picking clarity
- neo-classical melodic phrasing
- slight ambient reverb
- high-gain saturation
- crisp high end
Notes & Caveats
- Exact pickup model (stock Fender vs DiMarzio HS-3) not 100% confirmed for this specific track, but bridge single-coil is certain.
- No explicit mention of pickup selector position, but all sources and audio indicate bridge pickup for main riff.
- No explicit mention of effects loop; likely not used given era and amp.
- No explicit pedal settings found; DOD 250 confirmed by interview, settings estimated based on typical use and genre.
- Presence setting not given in sources, estimated based on typical Marshall Plexi settings for this genre/era.
- Reverb likely from amp or studio plate, but amp reverb setting given in lesson source.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Yngwie's 'Far Beyond the Sun' tone is classic 80s neoclassical metal: high gain but not modern extreme, tight bass, balanced mids (not scooped), very bright and cutting treble/presence for articulation, and minimal reverb for clarity. These settings reflect typical late-80s Marshall (often a cranked JMP or JCM800) with a Strat and overdrive, matching the song's aggressive, articulate lead tone.