GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Look Away Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Big Country
Big Country · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Yamaha SG2000
Pickups
Yamaha SG2000 stock humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1986. Guitarist Stuart Adamson used the Yamaha SG2000 for the riff sections of 'Look Away' on The Seer album. The amp was a Marshall JCM800 2203 head, a common choice for Adamson in this era. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the studio recording.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Chorus pedal (model likely Boss CE-2 or CE-3) · chorus
- Delay pedal (model unknown, likely analog) · delay
Yamaha SG2000 → Chorus pedal (Boss CE-2/CE-3 likely) → Delay pedal (analog, model unknown) → Marshall JCM800 2203 (spring reverb on)
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Tone Character
- punchy and driven
- classic British crunch
- chorus-laden shimmer
- tight, percussive attack
- bright, cutting top end
- full-bodied midrange
- modulation swirl
- anthemic, layered sound
- distinct stereo chorus effect
- dynamic, energetic riffing
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source gives exact amp or pedal settings for 'Look Away' studio recording; amp and pedal choices are based on multiple interviews, period rig rundowns, and audible effects.
- Settings are estimated based on typical JCM800 usage for 1980s British rock and the audible tone on the recording.
- Chorus effect is clearly audible on the riff section; specific pedal model not confirmed, but Boss CE-2 or CE-3 is highly likely based on era and Adamson's known gear.
- Delay is faintly audible in the stereo image; model not confirmed, but analog delay is likely.
- Reverb is present but likely from the amp or studio, set low.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Big Country's 'Look Away' riff features a classic 80s British rock crunch with pronounced mids, moderate gain, and a clear, slightly bright attack typical of their Marshall/JCM800-based tones. The reverb is subtle, just enough for space, and the presence is boosted for clarity without harshness, matching the era's production and the band's signature sound.