GuitarDistortedRiff
Just What I Needed Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Cars
The Cars · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson 1960 Les Paul Standard (cherry red finish, likely reissue or vintage, as per Easton's interview)
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
Marshall amp (exact model not specified, but era and genre strongly indicate Marshall, likely JMP or Plexi)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1977 (Cars debut album). Elliot Easton confirms only two pedals brought to the session: Morley EVO-1 Echo Volume (delay) and Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, but chorus effect was NOT used on the riff—producer Roy Thomas Baker used double-tracking for chorus-like effect. No chorus pedal on the riff. No evidence of other pedals or amp effects used for the riff.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain5
Reverb2.5
Treble7.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- bright and articulate
- tight and punchy
- slightly compressed
- clear note separation
- modest sustain
- classic Marshall crunch
- percussive strumming
- stereo width from double-tracking
- no modulation swirl
- no audible delay repeats