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I Ran (So Far Away) — A Flock of Seagulls1 / 2
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I Ran (So Far Away) Guitar Tone Settings — A Flock of Seagulls

A Flock of Seagulls · 1980s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1980s Burns Flyte (or possible Fender Stratocaster, see warnings)
Pickups
Single-coil pickups (Burns Tri-Sonic style or Fender single-coil, see warnings)
Amp
Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120 (likely, see warnings)
Pickup Position
Position 2 (bridge + middle) or Position 4 (neck + middle) on Strat-style guitar (see warnings)

Studio recording, 1982. Paul Reynolds is known for using a Burns Flyte and/or Fender Stratocaster with single-coil pickups. The Roland JC-120 is widely cited as the likely amp for the signature clean, chorus-laden new wave tones of the era, but no direct studio documentation is available for this specific track. No evidence of amp distortion; tone is clean and processed. See warnings for uncertainties.

Amp Settings

Mids
5
Bass
5.5
Gain
4
Reverb
5.5
Treble
7.5
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Delay pedal (likely Roland RE-201 Space Echo or similar tape delay) · delay
  • Chorus effect (Roland JC-120 built-in chorus or Boss CE-1/CE-2, model not confirmed) · chorus

Guitar → Delay pedal (tape echo) → Chorus (amp or pedal) → Roland JC-120 amp (with spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • bright and glassy
  • clean processed attack
  • modulated shimmer
  • pronounced delay repeats
  • tight and percussive rhythm
  • articulate highs
  • slightly hollow Strat-like quack
  • lush chorus texture
  • pseudo-doubled sound
  • present, cutting in the mix

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio documentation of exact guitar, amp, or pedal models for the original recording. Gear is inferred from era, genre, and multiple secondary sources.
  • ⚠️Paul Reynolds is seen with both Burns Flyte and Fender Stratocaster guitars in this era; most sources lean toward Burns Flyte for the 'I Ran' video, but Stratocaster is also possible.
  • ⚠️Roland JC-120 is widely cited as the likely amp for this tone, but no primary source confirms it for the studio recording.
  • ⚠️No numeric amp settings found; values are estimated based on typical JC-120/new wave setups.
  • ⚠️Pickup selector position is inferred based on the bright, glassy, slightly hollow tone typical of Strat positions 2 or 4.
  • ⚠️Delay and chorus are clearly audible, but exact pedal models are not confirmed for the studio recording. Roland RE-201 Space Echo and Boss CE-1/JC-120 chorus are likely, but not definitively documented.
  • ⚠️No evidence of overdrive/distortion pedals or amp gain; tone is clean and processed.
  • ⚠️All effect settings are estimated based on genre and era norms.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The iconic riff tone is bright, jangly, and chorus-laden with a clear edge-of-breakup crunch, typical of early-80s new wave. The amp is set for a tight low end, slightly scooped mids, and prominent treble/presence to cut through synths, with lush reverb for that spacious, atmospheric production.

Sources