TonesMatch
Going Down — Freddie King1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence

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

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct amp knob settings for 'Going Down' found; values estimated based on typical Vox AC-100 + Marshall cab settings for blues-rock crunch in early 1970s.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or outboard effects on the original studio riff section; all overdrive is amp-based.
  • ⚠️Pickup choice inferred from tonal character and period footage; most sources show Freddie King using the bridge pickup for the riff.
  • ⚠️Reverb setting is estimated low (2/10) as the track is dry with only subtle room ambience, likely from studio not amp.
  • ⚠️If alternate guitars (ES-335, ES-345) are cited in some live performances, these are not used on the original studio recording.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Freddie King's 'Going Down' riff features a classic early 70s blues-rock tone: edge-of-breakup gain, thick low end, strong mids, and moderate treble for bite without harshness. Likely a cranked Fender or Marshall combo with moderate spring reverb, matching his known gear and the era's production style.

Sources