Riff Tone

Ace of Spades

Motörhead

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1970s Gibson Les Paul Standard

AmpMarshall JMP 2203 100W head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, late 70s/early 80s)

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass5.5

mid7

treble7

reverb0

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1980. Eddie Clarke used a Les Paul Standard into a Marshall JMP 2203 for the 'Ace of Spades' album. No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; distortion comes from cranked amp. Settings are estimated based on era, genre, and forum discussions. No studio reverb or effects audible on the riff.

Tone Character(10)

aggressive and bitingmid-forward and cuttingtight and percussiveraw and uncompressedclassic British crunchfast attackno audible reverb or delaydistinct pick attackslightly nasal upper midshigh-gain saturation

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, precise alternate picking and tight palm muting at a high tempo, demanding stamina and rhythmic accuracy. The aggressive attack and consistent energy make it moderately challenging for intermediate players.