Riff Tone
Atmosphere
Joy Division
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarShergold Masquerader (likely 6-string, as used by Bernard Sumner in Joy Division studio recordings)
AmpVox AC30 (most likely, based on era, band, and forum consensus for Joy Division studio recordings)
PickupsStock Shergold single coils (exact model unspecified, but period-correct single coils)
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb5.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown, likely Electro-Harmonix Clone Theory or similar)
Notes
Studio recording, 1980. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for this song's riff section. No pedalboard photos or direct studio notes for this exact session, but Shergold Masquerader and Vox AC30 are widely cited for Sumner's Joy Division era studio work.
Tone Character(10)
clean and shimmeringlush and ambienthaunting and melodicdark and moodyemphasizing clarity and spaceminimalist and atmosphericsmooth and warmchorus-laden texturereverb-heavy spatial depthintrospective and ethereal
Difficulty
The riff is technically simple but demands careful control of dynamics, timing, and effect blending to achieve the iconic atmospheric sound.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarShergold Masquerader (likely 6-string, as used by Bernard Sumner in Joy Division studio recordings)
AmpVox AC30 (most likely, based on era, band, and forum consensus for Joy Division studio recordings)
PickupsStock Shergold single coils (exact model unspecified, but period-correct single coils)
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb5.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown, likely Electro-Harmonix Clone Theory or similar)
Notes
Studio recording, 1980. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for this song's riff section. No pedalboard photos or direct studio notes for this exact session, but Shergold Masquerader and Vox AC30 are widely cited for Sumner's Joy Division era studio work.
Tone Character(10)
clean and shimmeringlush and ambienthaunting and melodicdark and moodyemphasizing clarity and spaceminimalist and atmosphericsmooth and warmchorus-laden texturereverb-heavy spatial depthintrospective and ethereal
Difficulty
The riff is technically simple but demands careful control of dynamics, timing, and effect blending to achieve the iconic atmospheric sound.
More Joy Division tones
- Disorder · solo
- A Means to an End (2020 Digital Master) · riff
- Dead Souls · riff
- Disorder · clean
- Disorder · distorted
- Disorder · riff
- Interzone (2019 Digital Master) · riff
- Love Will Tear Us Apart (2020 Remaster) · riff
- Shadowplay · riff