GuitarDistortedRiff
For the Love of God Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Steve Vai
Steve Vai · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ibanez JEM77FP (Floral Pattern, original 1987-1990 model)
Pickups
DiMarzio PAF Pro (neck and bridge, HSH configuration)
Amp
Marshall JCM900 (heavily modified, studio recording amp for Passion and Warfare era)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1989-1990. Guitar is the Ibanez JEM77FP with DiMarzio PAF Pro pickups. Amp is a heavily modded Marshall JCM900, not the later Carvin Legacy. Effects are a mix of rack and pedals. Settings and effects are for the original studio recording, riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass7
Gain7.5
Reverb4.5
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Ibanez WH-10 Wah · wah
- MXR Phase 90 · phaser
- Boss CE-2 Chorus · chorus
- Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer · overdrive
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi · fuzz
- Boss DD-2 Digital Delay · delay
- MXR Dyna Comp · compression
Guitar → Ibanez WH-10 Wah → MXR Phase 90 → Boss CE-2 Chorus → Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer → Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi → MXR Dyna Comp → Boss DD-2 Digital Delay → Marshall JCM900 (spring reverb on amp)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- warm and smooth
- singing sustain
- compressed and harmonically rich
- subtle modulation depth
- tight and articulate riffing
- lush reverb ambience
- clear delay repeats
- high-gain but controlled
- rich midrange
- not harsh or brittle