GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) Guitar Tone Settings
The Hollies · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Telecaster
Pickups
Single-coil (Fender Telecaster stock pickups)
Amp
Vox V1121 Buckingham 3-Channel 35-Watt Guitar Amp Head
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1971/1972. Guitarist Allan Clarke is credited with playing the main riff on a Fender Telecaster. Amp is a Vox Buckingham, as used by The Hollies in this era. No evidence of pedals or additional effects in the riff section. Settings estimated based on typical Vox Buckingham and classic rock tones of the era.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain5
Reverb2
Treble7.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- bright and articulate
- biting Telecaster twang
- tight and percussive rhythm
- slightly overdriven edge-of-breakup
- clear note separation
- focused midrange
- minimal sustain
- quick attack and decay
- classic British amp crunch
- no audible effects
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp knob settings; values estimated based on typical Vox Buckingham settings for classic rock tones.
- No evidence of pedals or additional effects used on the riff section; no delay, chorus, or modulation audible.
- Some sources speculate on guitar model, but multiple sources and video evidence support Telecaster for the riff.
- No explicit pickup selector position stated, but tone and genre strongly indicate bridge pickup.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The riff tone is bright, punchy, and on the edge of breakup, typical of a cranked early '70s Vox or Fender amp with single-coils. The mids are forward (British rock), treble is high for clarity, and presence adds bite; reverb is minimal, reflecting the dry, upfront production style of the era.