GuitarDistortedRiff
I Want to Tell You Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Beatles
The Beatles · 1960s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1962 Gibson SG Standard
Pickups
Gibson PAF humbuckers (bridge pickup)
Amp
Vox Conqueror (solid-state, 2x12 cabinet, Brilliant channel)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1966. George Harrison played the main riff on his Gibson SG Standard through a Vox Conqueror amp. The amp's built-in fuzz/distortion circuit was likely used for the riff, but not as heavily as in the solo. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the riff section. Lennon doubled the riff on a J-160E acoustic-electric, but the main electric riff is Harrison's SG/Conqueror setup.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass4.5
Gain4
Reverb1
Treble6
Presence5
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Tone Character
- fast, percussive attack
- scratchy treble
- nasal midrange
- slightly overdriven tone
- organ-like timbre
- tight and articulate
- clear note separation
- mild fuzz texture
- not heavily saturated
- punchy and direct