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Parisienne Walkways — Gary Moore1 / 2
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Parisienne Walkways Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Gary Moore

Gary Moore · 1970s · blues

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (Peter Green's 'Greeny')
Pickups
Original PAF humbuckers (out-of-phase wiring, neck pickup heavily used)
Amp
Marshall 1959 Super Lead (Plexi) 100W head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (out-of-phase, PAF humbucker)

Studio recording, 1978. Guitar is the iconic 'Greeny' Les Paul, amp is a Marshall Plexi. No evidence of other guitars or amps used on the original studio riff section. No confirmed pedal use for the riff section; overdrive comes from amp volume. Effects are minimal in the riff section, with natural amp reverb and possible subtle delay.

Amp Settings

Mids
7.5
Bass
6.5
Gain
6
Reverb
3
Treble
6.5
Presence
5.5

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Tone Character

  • singing sustain
  • warm and smooth neck pickup
  • edge-of-breakup crunch
  • touch-sensitive response
  • vocal-like phrasing
  • long note sustain
  • slightly rolled-off highs
  • classic British amp breakup
  • clear note definition
  • not overly distorted

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings found for the studio riff section; values estimated based on typical Marshall Plexi settings for blues/rock in the late 1970s.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedal use for the riff section in the original studio recording; all overdrive is amp-based.
  • ⚠️Some sources mention live use of overdrive pedals (e.g., Marshall Guv'nor, Tube Screamer) but not for the original studio riff.
  • ⚠️Delay and chorus are not clearly audible in the riff section; sustain is achieved via amp volume and feedback, not effects.
  • ⚠️Pickup is the neck PAF in out-of-phase wiring, as on the 'Greeny' Les Paul.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Gary Moore's 'Parisienne Walkways' riff tone is a classic, mid-forward British blues rock sound, likely using a Les Paul into a Marshall with moderate gain, strong mids, warm bass, and restrained treble/presence for vocal sustain. Reverb is present but not excessive, matching late 70s/early 80s production.

Sources