GuitarCleanRiff80% confidence
Human Nature Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson · 1980s · other
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Session player guitar (likely Fender Stratocaster or Yamaha SG2000, but not confirmed for riff section)
Pickups
Single-coil (if Stratocaster) or humbucker (if Yamaha SG2000); exact model not confirmed
Amp
Unknown clean amp (likely Roland JC-120 or Fender Twin Reverb, but not confirmed for riff section)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (if Stratocaster); if humbucker, likely neck position for warmth
No direct source confirms the exact guitar or amp for the clean riff section. Most sources focus on synths (Yamaha CS-80, Oberheim 4-Voice) and do not mention guitar specifics for the riff. No evidence of live vs. studio variation. Recording year: 1982 (Thriller sessions).
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb4.5
Treble7
Presence5
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Tone Character
- crystal-clear and clean
- smooth and glassy
- subtle reverb ambience
- no audible distortion
- even and soft attack
- studio-polished clarity
- not prominent in the mix
- warm and rounded (if neck pickup)
- no compression artifacts
- very subtle, almost transparent
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct source confirms the exact guitar, amp, or pedal models used for the clean riff section of 'Human Nature'.
- Most sources focus on the synths (Yamaha CS-80, Oberheim 4-Voice) that dominate the riff; guitar is subtle and possibly layered or doubled with synth.
- Settings are estimated based on typical 1980s studio clean tones and genre/era conventions.
- No evidence of specific pedals or effects used on the guitar for the riff section.
- If a guitar is present in the riff, it is mixed low and extremely clean, with no audible drive or modulation effects.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The 'Human Nature' riff features a clean, slightly compressed Strat-style tone with warmth and clarity typical of early 80s pop/R&B. The gain is set just above clean for a hint of breakup, with balanced bass, forward mids, and bright but not harsh treble; subtle reverb and neutral presence reflect the era's studio production and Steve Lukather's session approach.