Riff Tone

Any Way You Want It (2024 Remaster)

Journey

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely sunburst finish)

AmpMarshall JMP 2203 100W head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1979/1980 era)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely T-Top or early 490R/498T, stock for era)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb2.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

flangerElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix

Notes

Studio recording for 'Any Way You Want It' (Departure, 1980; 2024 Remaster is from this session). Neal Schon is known for using a Les Paul Standard into a Marshall JMP 2203 for this era. No evidence of live/touring gear or other guitars for the main riff. Effects chain includes flanger pedal, confirmed by Equipboard and audible in the recording.

Tone Character(10)

classic British crunchbright and cutting attacktight palm-muted power chordsmodulated swirl from flangerarticulate pick attackharmonic overtonessaturated but not high-gaindynamic response to picking80s arena rock claritypunchy midrange presence

Difficulty

The riff requires fast alternate picking and tight palm muting to maintain clarity at tempo, with precise timing to match the flanger modulation. Dynamic control is needed for the punchy, articulate sound.