Going Down — Freddie King1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedRiff

Going Down Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Freddie King

Freddie King · 1970s · blues

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson ES-355TDC
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (likely original Patent Number or T-Top humbuckers)
Amp
Vox AC-100 head into Marshall 1982A and 1982B 'Tall Bottom' cabinets
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1971; evidence from period photos and live footage shows Freddie King using a Gibson ES-355TDC and Vox AC-100 with Marshall cabs for this era and song. No evidence of pedals or outboard effects for the riff section; all overdrive is amp-based.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
5.5
Reverb
3
Treble
6.5
Presence
5.5

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Tone Character

  • fat, biting midrange punch
  • open, dynamic response
  • edge-of-breakup amp drive
  • bright but not harsh top end
  • powerful, percussive attack
  • slightly compressed sustain
  • classic blues-rock crunch
  • touch-sensitive picking dynamics
  • no audible pedal coloration
  • amp-driven overdrive, not fuzz

Sources