GuitarDistortedRiff
When the Sun Hits Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Slowdive
Slowdive · 1990s · other
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender American Standard Telecaster
Pickups
Fender single-coil (stock Telecaster pickups)
Amp
Yamaha FX500 Multi-Effects Processor (Soft Focus patch) into likely clean solid-state or tube amp (exact model not confirmed for studio recording)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1993-1994, Souvlaki album. Neil Halstead is confirmed to have used a Fender Telecaster and the Yamaha FX500 'Soft Focus' patch for the signature dreamy shoegaze tone. Amp model for the studio session is not confirmed in sources; likely a clean amp platform. No evidence of live/tour gear or alternate guitars for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain4
Reverb7.5
Treble6.5
Presence5
Effects Chain
- Yamaha FX500 (Soft Focus patch) · modulation
Fender Telecaster → Yamaha FX500 (Soft Focus patch) → Clean amp
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Tone Character
- lush and ambient
- ethereal and dreamy
- shimmering top end
- soft attack
- sustained, washy chords
- modulated reverb tail
- not heavily distorted
- wide stereo image
- synth-like guitar timbre
- layered, immersive sound