GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
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
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings found in sources; settings estimated based on era, amp model (WEM 200-watt tube amp), and genre.
- No evidence of pedal or modulation effect use for the riff section in any available source.
- All overdrive/distortion is from amp cranked to high volume as described by Tony Visconti.
- Pickup choice inferred from typical Mick Ronson setup and tone characteristics on the recording.
- No evidence of amp reverb or studio reverb on the guitar riff; dry, close-miked sound.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The riff tone is classic early 70s British rock: edge-of-breakup with pronounced mids, moderate bass, and clear but not harsh treble. Likely a Hiwatt or early Marshall with moderate reverb from the room or amp, matching Mick Ronson's known setup and the song's production era.