Solo Tone
Althea
Grateful Dead
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1977 Doug Irwin 'Tiger' custom guitar
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark II (likely Mark IIa or IIb) head into JBL K120 speakers
PickupsDiMarzio Super II (neck/middle), DiMarzio SDS-1 (bridge), single coils with onboard buffer
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass6
mid6.5
treble7
reverb4
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1980. Jerry Garcia used his 'Tiger' guitar and Mesa/Boogie Mark II amp for the 'Go to Heaven' album sessions, including 'Althea'. No direct evidence of pedal use on the studio solo, but onboard effects and amp reverb likely. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the studio recording.
Tone Character(10)
clear and articulatebright and glassy highswarm, rounded attackslightly compressed sustaintouch-sensitive dynamicssubtle amp reverbdistinct note separationmildly scooped midsno audible overdrive or fuzzsinging, melodic phrasing
Difficulty
The solo requires intermediate-level phrasing, expressive bends, and dynamic control to maintain clarity and articulation at a moderate tempo. While not technically fast, it demands musicality and subtlety.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1977 Doug Irwin 'Tiger' custom guitar
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark II (likely Mark IIa or IIb) head into JBL K120 speakers
PickupsDiMarzio Super II (neck/middle), DiMarzio SDS-1 (bridge), single coils with onboard buffer
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass6
mid6.5
treble7
reverb4
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1980. Jerry Garcia used his 'Tiger' guitar and Mesa/Boogie Mark II amp for the 'Go to Heaven' album sessions, including 'Althea'. No direct evidence of pedal use on the studio solo, but onboard effects and amp reverb likely. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the studio recording.
Tone Character(10)
clear and articulatebright and glassy highswarm, rounded attackslightly compressed sustaintouch-sensitive dynamicssubtle amp reverbdistinct note separationmildly scooped midsno audible overdrive or fuzzsinging, melodic phrasing
Difficulty
The solo requires intermediate-level phrasing, expressive bends, and dynamic control to maintain clarity and articulation at a moderate tempo. While not technically fast, it demands musicality and subtlety.
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