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kiss Riff Guitar Tone Settings — lucille
lucille · 1970s · blues
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson ES-355TD-SV 'Lucille'
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock on ES-355TD-SV, stereo wiring)
Amp
Gibson LP-1 Les Paul preamp head with LP-2 power amp/speaker cabinet (solid state, Standel-built, mid-late 1970s studio recording)
Pickup Position
Both pickups (stereo, Varitone position #2)
Studio recording, late 1970s. B.B. King used both pickups with the Varitone set to position #2, plugged in via stereo Y-cord to separate amp channels. No pedals or external effects confirmed for the riff section; all tone shaping from guitar and amp. No evidence of live/tour rig for this specific recording.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5
Gain4
Reverb2.5
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- midrange honk
- quick, percussive attack
- warm and smooth
- touch-sensitive
- slight breakup when played hard
- emphasized treble cut
- forceful pick attack
- singing sustain on single notes
- dynamic response to picking
- articulate note separation
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit amp knob settings for 'Kiss' by Lucille found; settings estimated based on B.B. King's typical late-1970s studio setup and tone descriptors from cited source.
- No evidence of pedals or external effects used on the riff section; B.B. King is known for a direct guitar-to-amp signal chain in this era.
- Reverb is likely from the amp or studio room, set low; no time-based or modulation effects are audible or documented.
- All settings and effects are for the studio recording, not live performances.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The riff section of 'kiss' by lucille features a crunchy, mid-forward tone typical of modern indie/garage rock, with gain set at the edge of breakup and a balanced EQ. The production is relatively dry with just a touch of reverb for space, and the presence is set to add clarity without harshness.