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The Killing Moon — Echo & The Bunnymen1 / 2
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The Killing Moon Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Echo & The Bunnymen

Echo & The Bunnymen · 1980s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Vox Mark XII 12-string electric
Pickups
Vox single-coil pickups (stock on Mark XII)
Amp
Fender 'Silverface' Vibrolux Reverb (1970s-1980s era, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (likely, for warmth and shimmer on 12-string)

Studio recording, 1983-1984. Will Sergeant is seen using a Vox Mark XII 12-string for the riff in 'The Killing Moon'. The amp is most likely a Fender Silverface Vibrolux Reverb, as per period-correct usage and Equipboard documentation. No evidence of live/tour gear for this section.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
5.5
Gain
3
Reverb
7
Treble
7
Presence
5

Effects Chain

  • Chorus pedal (model unknown) · chorus
  • Echo/Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay

Vox Mark XII 12-string → Chorus pedal → Echo/Delay pedal → Fender Vibrolux Reverb (spring reverb on)

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Tone Character

  • shimmering and lush
  • bright and articulate
  • clean and glassy
  • spacious and atmospheric
  • modulated, dreamy quality
  • rich, layered harmonics
  • echoed, reverberant texture
  • bendy, expressive vibrato
  • chiming 12-string presence
  • snaky, haunting 80s sound

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings found; values estimated based on typical Fender Vibrolux Reverb settings for clean, modulated 80s post-punk tones.
  • ⚠️No explicit pickup position stated; neck pickup inferred from tone and genre conventions.
  • ⚠️No specific pedal models confirmed for studio recording; chorus, echo, and reverb are clearly audible and referenced in multiple sources.
  • ⚠️Amp model inferred from Equipboard and period-correct usage; not 100% confirmed for studio session.
  • ⚠️Chorus and reverb effects are audible and referenced, but pedal/amp split is not confirmed.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Will Sergeant's tone on 'The Killing Moon' is clean but shimmery, with a pronounced midrange and lush, ambient reverb typical of early-80s British post-punk. The amp is set just at the edge of breakup, with strong mids and treble for chime, moderate bass, and prominent reverb to create the song's atmospheric soundscape.

Sources