GuitarCleanRiff
Taxman Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Beatles
The Beatles · 1960s · rock
studio
Original Recording
A reconstruction of the riff tone. Gear attributions and estimated settings are explained in the research notes below.
Guitar
1964 Gibson SG Standard
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
1966 Vox 7120 (hybrid solid-state preamp/tube power amp), 4x12 cabinet with Celestion T1225 speakers
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1966. Gear confirmed for rhythm/riff section by multiple sources. Not live/tour rig. No pedals or external effects confirmed for clean rhythm section.
Amp Settings
Suggested starting points on a 0–10 scale, not documented studio knob positions. Match to your gear for controls specific to your setup.
Mids8
Bass6.5
Gain2.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7.5
Presence5
Effects Chain
Guitar → Vox 7120 (spring reverb on low setting)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Plans from $2.92/mo · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and punchy
- bright and articulate
- nasal midrange
- percussive attack
- clean with slight edge
- scratchy treble
- quick note decay
- rhythmic clarity
- slightly compressed
- no audible effects