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Old Love Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton · 1980s · blues
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Eric Clapton Signature Fender Stratocaster (1988-1989, Lace Sensor Gold pickups, mid-boost circuit)
Pickups
Fender Lace Sensor Gold single coils
Amp
Soldano SLO-100 (custom, modded by Pete Cornish, used in studio for Journeyman album)
Pickup Position
Position 4 (neck + middle)
Studio recording for 'Old Love' riff section, from the 1989 'Journeyman' album. Clapton used his signature Stratocaster with active mid-boost and a Soldano SLO-100 amp, routed through a Cornish switching system. No evidence of pedal use for the riff section; effects are primarily amp-based. Pickup selector likely in position 4 (neck + middle) for a warm, glassy tone.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6.5
Gain4
Reverb3.5
Treble6
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- warm and round
- glassy highs
- smooth, singing sustain
- touch-sensitive
- slightly compressed
- dynamic and expressive
- clear note separation
- not heavily saturated
- mild breakup on strong attack
- studio clarity
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings for 'Old Love' studio riff found; settings estimated based on typical Soldano SLO-100 usage for blues/rock in late 80s/early 90s and Clapton's known preferences.
- No evidence of pedal use for the riff section; all effects appear to be amp-based or from the Cornish routing system.
- Pickup selector inferred from tone and era; not explicitly confirmed in sources.
- If referencing live versions (e.g., 24 Nights), gear and settings may differ.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Clapton's 'Old Love' riff section features a warm, bluesy edge-of-breakup tone typical of his late 80s/early 90s Strat-through-Tweed or Soldano setup, with pronounced mids, full bass, moderate treble, and subtle reverb for space. The gain is set just high enough for touch-sensitive breakup, matching his expressive phrasing and genre conventions.