GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
She Was Hot Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Telecaster (likely Keith Richards' main guitar for this era, but not definitively confirmed for this track)
Pickups
Single-coil (Fender Telecaster stock pickups, likely bridge position for main riff)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIB (studio amp for Undercover sessions, but some sources suggest Fender Twin Reverb or Ampeg V-4; no definitive studio documentation for this song's riff section)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1983 (Undercover album sessions). No direct source confirms exact guitar/amp for 'She Was Hot' riff, but era and band setup strongly suggest Telecaster into Mesa/Boogie or Fender amp. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this part.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain5
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- bright and biting
- crunchy and mid-forward
- tight and percussive
- articulate single-coil clarity
- dynamic pick attack
- slightly compressed
- modest amp breakup
- classic Stones 'snap'
- not heavily saturated
- touch-sensitive response
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source confirms exact guitar, amp, or pedal for 'She Was Hot' riff section; inference based on era, typical Stones studio setup, and audio analysis.
- No numeric amp settings for this song; settings estimated based on typical 1980s Stones studio tones and Mesa/Boogie/Fender amp conventions.
- No pedal or effect is audibly obvious in the riff section; no chorus, delay, flanger, or wah is heard.
- No evidence of effects loop or studio rack effects on the riff section.
- If future sources provide direct studio documentation, update gear and settings accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Keith Richards' riff tone on 'She Was Hot' is classic early-80s Stones: edge-of-breakup to light crunch, with forward mids, solid bass, and a touch of presence for clarity. Likely a Telecaster into a cranked Fender or Mesa/Boogie, with minimal reverb and no scooping, matching their signature raw, punchy rock sound.