GuitarCleanRiff
This Charming Man Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Smiths
The Smiths · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1954 Fender Telecaster (borrowed from John Porter)
Pickups
Single-coil (vintage Fender Telecaster pickups)
Amp
Roland JC-120 (for highs), Fender Twin Reverb (for mids and bass)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1983. Main riff tracked with '54 Telecaster through both Roland JC-120 and Fender Twin Reverb amps. Marr has confirmed in interviews that the main riff is not a Rickenbacker but the Telecaster. Multiple layered tracks, but the core riff is Telecaster. No evidence of live rig or other guitars for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb3.5
Treble7.5
Presence5.5
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.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- bright and jangly
- glassy highs
- articulate and percussive
- tight, snappy attack
- clear note separation
- slight natural reverb
- complex, layered sound
- minimal compression
- no audible distortion
- chiming, bell-like clarity