GuitarCleanRiff
Something Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Beatles
The Beatles · 1960s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1961 or 1963 Fender Stratocaster (likely Sonic Blue, rosewood fingerboard, stock single-coil pickups)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (original 1960s Strat pickups)
Amp
Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface, studio recording, Abbey Road 1969)
Pickup Position
Position 4 (neck + middle) or Neck pickup
Studio recording, Abbey Road, 1969. George Harrison played the clean riff sections of 'Something' using his Fender Stratocaster (likely the Sonic Blue model seen in Abbey Road sessions) into a Fender Twin Reverb amp. No evidence of pedals or outboard effects for the clean rhythm/riff section. All effects are amp-based. Pickup selector likely in position 4 (neck + middle) or neck, based on the warm, glassy tone. No evidence of live performance gear differing for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain2.5
Reverb3.5
Treble6.5
Presence5
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Tone Character
- warm and glassy
- bell-like clarity
- articulate and dynamic
- clean and uncompressed
- subtle spring reverb ambience
- no audible breakup
- smooth attack
- expressive, touch-sensitive response
- rounded highs, not piercing
- full-bodied Stratocaster shimmer