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Pretending — Eric Clapton1 / 2
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Pretending Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton · 1980s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster (mid-late 1980s, Lace Sensor Gold pickups, mid-boost circuit)
Pickups
Fender Lace Sensor Gold single coils with active mid-boost circuit
Amp
Soldano SLO-100 100-Watt Tube Guitar Amplifier (studio recording, late 1980s/early 1990s)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (with mid-boost engaged)

Studio recording, 1989; Clapton used his signature Stratocaster with Lace Sensor Gold pickups and mid-boost, into a Soldano SLO-100 amp. Wah pedal (Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95F) is used for the solo. No evidence of other pedals or rack effects in the solo section. No chorus, delay, or flanger audible or cited for the solo. Settings estimated based on typical Soldano SLO-100 usage for Clapton in this era and genre.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
5.5
Reverb
3
Treble
6
Presence
5.5

Effects Chain

  • Dunlop GCB95F Cry Baby Classic Wah Wah · wah

Guitar → Dunlop Cry Baby Wah → Soldano SLO-100 amp (with light spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • singing sustain
  • fat, vocal-like lead
  • mid-forward presence
  • smooth overdrive
  • touch-sensitive dynamics
  • expressive wah sweeps
  • articulate note separation
  • dynamic pick attack
  • classic blues-rock solo tone
  • slightly compressed

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio amp knob settings found; settings estimated based on typical Soldano SLO-100 usage for Clapton in this era and genre.
  • ⚠️No explicit pickup selector position for solo, but neck pickup with mid-boost is widely cited as Clapton's lead tone in this period.
  • ⚠️No evidence of delay, chorus, or flanger in the solo; only wah is confirmed and clearly audible.
  • ⚠️No evidence of effects loop or rack effects in the solo section.
  • ⚠️Amp reverb is estimated at a low setting based on genre and era.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Clapton's 'Pretending' solo tone is classic late-80s/early-90s blues-rock: edge-of-breakup gain, strong mids for vocal sustain, warm but not muddy lows, and smooth, not overly bright highs. He likely used a Soldano SLO-100 or similar with moderate reverb and presence for clarity, matching his signature creamy, singing lead sound.

Sources