GuitarDistortedRiff
The Man Who Sold the World (2015 Remaster) Guitar Tone Settings
David Bowie · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Custom (early 1970s, likely 1968 model, as used by Mick Ronson)
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
WEM (Watkins Electric Music) 200-watt tube amplifier with WEM 2x18 cabinets
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1970 (album recorded in 1970, remastered in 2015). Mick Ronson played the main riff on the original studio version. No evidence of pedal use for the riff section; all overdrive/distortion comes from amp pushed to high volume. No chorus, delay, or modulation effects audible or documented for the riff. No evidence of effects loop or studio trickery for the guitar riff.
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass6.5
Gain6.5
Reverb1.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- thick and mid-forward
- British crunch
- tight, punchy attack
- saturated tube breakup
- full-bodied humbucker sound
- raw and unprocessed
- slight natural compression
- no ambient reverb
- classic rock riff clarity
- sustain with bite