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Fly By Night Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Rush
Rush · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson ES-335
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock ES-335 pickups, likely T-Top)
Amp
Marshall JMP 1987 50W (50-watt head, single 4x12 cabinet)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1974/1975. Alex Lifeson explicitly states in Guitar World interview that for 'Fly By Night' (riff section) he used a Gibson ES-335 into a Marshall 50-watt head with a single 4x12 cabinet and a Fender Twin was also present but the Marshall was the main amp. Only effect mentioned is a Maestro Echoplex EP-2 for echo. No evidence of other pedals or modulation effects on the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb1
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- British crunch
- open, dynamic rhythm sound
- tight, articulate attack
- classic 70s rock drive
- clear note separation
- full-bodied midrange
- slightly compressed
- punchy power chords
- no excessive saturation
- vintage Marshall overdrive
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit amp knob settings found for 'Fly By Night'—settings estimated based on typical Marshall JMP 50W usage in 1970s rock and Alex Lifeson's stated setup.
- No evidence of any pedals or effects except Maestro Echoplex EP-2 (echo), which is not clearly audible in the main riff section.
- No chorus, phaser, or other modulation effects used on this section—chorus/phaser were used on later albums.
- Pickup position inferred from typical classic rock rhythm tone and ES-335 wiring.
- If alternate sources suggest use of a Fender Twin or other amps, those were present in the studio but the Marshall JMP is confirmed as the main amp for this song's riff.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Alex Lifeson in 'Fly By Night' uses a classic 70s rock crunch with a Gibson ES-335 into a Marshall, favoring strong mids and moderate gain for clarity and punch. The tone is mid-forward, not overly bright, with subtle reverb typical of 70s production, matching the British rock conventions and Lifeson's amp settings of the era.