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Roxanne Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Police
The Police · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1971 Fender Telecaster (modded with Gibson humbucker in neck position, maple neck, brass bridge saddles, custom switching)
Pickups
Bridge single-coil (Fender Telecaster bridge pickup)
Amp
Fender Twin Reverb (Black Panel, mid-1970s)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1978. Andy Summers used his heavily modded 1971 Telecaster into a Fender Twin Reverb for the 'Roxanne' riff. No evidence of Marshall or Mesa/Boogie for this part. Effects were minimal and clean for the riff section. Compression likely from MXR Dyna Comp. No chorus or flanger on this riff. Pete Cornish board may have been used for switching, but not for effects in this section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5
Gain0
Reverb2
Treble7.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- MXR Dyna Comp · compression
1971 Fender Telecaster (bridge pickup) → MXR Dyna Comp → Fender Twin Reverb (spring reverb low)
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Tone Character
- bright and articulate
- tight, percussive attack
- clean, glassy highs
- snappy single-coil bite
- minimal breakup
- slightly compressed
- dynamic and responsive
- reggae-inspired rhythmic clarity
- studio-clean with little ambience
- focused midrange
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct source gives exact amp knob settings; values estimated based on typical Fender Twin Reverb settings for clean Telecaster tones in late 1970s rock/reggae context.
- No evidence of chorus, flanger, or delay on the riff section; chorus/flanger are used on other Police songs but not on 'Roxanne' riff.
- Compression is likely but not absolutely confirmed for this specific recording; MXR Dyna Comp is cited as always-on in Andy Summers' rig for this era.
- Some sources mention Pete Cornish board and other amps (Marshall, Mesa/Boogie), but these are not tied to the 'Roxanne' riff studio recording.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Andy Summers used a Fender Strat into a clean/crisp amp (often a Roland JC-120 or Fender tube amp) with very low gain, pronounced mids and treble for clarity and cut, and moderate presence; the riff is bright, punchy, and dry with just a touch of room reverb, typical of late 70s new wave production.