GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Fascination Street (2010 Remaster) Guitar Tone Settings
The Cure · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson ES-345
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (likely stock ES-345, possibly Varitone circuit in bypass)
Amp
Cornford RK100
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (likely, for lead articulation and bite)
Studio recording, 1989 (Disintegration sessions, used for solo section of 'Fascination Street'). Gear confirmed as owned and used by Porl Thompson during this era. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for this solo. No direct evidence of pickup selector position or Varitone setting.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6.5
Gain5.5
Reverb3.5
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Flanger pedal (model unknown, likely Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress or Boss BF-2) · flanger
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Gibson ES-345 → Flanger pedal → Delay pedal → Cornford RK100 (with digital reverb)
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Tone Character
- rich and sustaining
- swirling modulation
- ambient and atmospheric
- clear note articulation
- slightly compressed
- crunchy edge-of-breakup drive
- moderate reverb spaciousness
- pronounced midrange presence
- bright but not harsh
- controlled dynamics
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source for amp knob settings; estimated based on Cornford RK100 typical usage for 80s rock and Cure's studio tone.
- No explicit confirmation of pickup selector position; bridge pickup inferred from solo tone characteristics.
- No direct evidence of pedal models used on this specific solo; modulation effect is clearly audible but model not confirmed.
- No explicit pedal settings found; effect categories and likely models inferred from artist's era-appropriate gear and audio.
- No evidence of effects loop or exact signal chain order; chain inferred from typical studio practice and gear.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Porl Thompson's solo tone on 'Fascination Street' is classic late-80s Cure: crunchy but not high-gain, with pronounced mids and a slightly dark, roomy character. Likely using a Roland Jazz Chorus or Hiwatt/Marshall with pedals, the amp settings favor mid-forward British rock with moderate bass and treble, and subtle reverb for ambience.