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The Sound Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The 1975
The 1975 · 2010s+ · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Jaguar
Pickups
Fender Jaguar single-coil pickups
Amp
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2015-2016. Adam Hann has stated the Roland JC-120 was a go-to for clean sounds on the album featuring 'The Sound.' No evidence of live substitutions for this specific studio recording. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the main riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb3.5
Treble7.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble · chorus
Fender Jaguar → Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble → Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (with spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- bright and glassy
- lush chorus shimmer
- articulate and percussive
- tight, compressed attack
- crisp high-end clarity
- wide stereo image
- minimal breakup
- pop-funk rhythmic feel
- distinct modulation swirl
- studio-polished, hi-fi sound
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct source lists exact amp knob settings; values estimated based on typical Roland JC-120 settings for 1975's clean/chorus tones and genre/era conventions.
- No explicit confirmation of pickup selector position, but bridge pickup is most likely for the bright, percussive riff tone.
- No studio pedalboard photo for this specific song; Boss CE-1 Chorus is included based on multiple sources and the clearly audible chorus effect.
- No evidence of drive/distortion pedals or delay in the riff section; only chorus and amp reverb are used.
- Settings and effects are for the studio recording, not live performances.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The riff in 'The Sound' features a bright, punchy, and slightly compressed clean/crunch tone typical of The 1975's pop-rock style, likely using a Fender or Vox amp with moderate gain, forward mids, and crisp treble. The production is modern and polished, so reverb is present but subtle, and the presence is boosted for clarity in the mix.