Old Love — Eric Clapton1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

Old Love Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton · 1980s · blues

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Eric Clapton Signature Fender Stratocaster (1988-1990, Lace Sensor Gold pickups, mid-boost circuit, maple neck)
Pickups
Fender Lace Sensor Gold single coils with active mid-boost circuit
Amp
1958 Fender Twin 5F8-4 (Tweed Twin, Cesar Diaz modded, used in studio and live 1989-1990)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup

Studio and live rigs for 'Old Love' (Journeyman, 1989) both centered on the Tweed Twin; Clapton's Strat had active mid-boost and Lace Sensors. No evidence of other guitars or amps for this solo section. Effects chain likely included Tube Driver and delay for solo. Settings estimated from era and forum consensus.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
5
Reverb
3.5
Treble
6
Presence
5

Effects Chain

  • Chandler Tube Driver · overdrive
  • Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay

Guitar → Chandler Tube Driver → Delay pedal → Fender Tweed Twin (spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • singing sustain
  • warm and smooth neck pickup
  • touch-sensitive
  • slightly compressed
  • fluid, expressive bends
  • dynamic response to picking
  • clear note separation
  • mild breakup with clarity
  • not high-gain, but saturated
  • vocal-like phrasing

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings for 'Old Love' solo found; settings estimated based on Tweed Twin/Strat setup and blues genre conventions.
  • ⚠️Pedal models inferred from era, interviews, and forum consensus; Tube Driver and delay are highly likely but not 100% confirmed for this exact solo.
  • ⚠️No explicit pickup selector info for 'Old Love' solo, but neck pickup is strongly indicated by tone and era interviews.
  • ⚠️No evidence of chorus, flanger, or phaser in this solo; delay is clearly audible, reverb is likely amp-based.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Clapton's 'Old Love' solo tone is warm, dynamic, and slightly overdriven, typical of his late 80s/early 90s Bluesbreaker/Strat setup. The settings favor a mid-forward, smooth blues sound with ample bass and moderate reverb, matching the era's production and his tone preferences.

Sources