Riff Tone

Badge

Cream

Guitarrock1960s

Original Gear

Guitar1964 Gibson SG Standard

AmpMarshall 1960s Super Lead (likely model 1959, 100-watt head) with Marshall 4x12 cabinet

PickupsGibson PAF humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6.5

mid7.5

treble7

reverb1

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

modulationUnknown Rotary speaker (Leslie 16 or studio rotary effect, model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording at IBC Studios, London, December 1968 for the Goodbye album. Gear confirmed for this session and era; George Harrison played rhythm but Clapton played the main riff. No evidence of pedals in the signal chain for the riff section, but a Leslie speaker or rotary effect is clearly audible on the riff. No evidence of live/touring gear for this section.

Tone Character(10)

glassy and brittleBritish crunchclear note separationmodest overdriverotary swirlarticulate attackslightly compressednot heavily saturatedopen and dynamicclassic Cream studio tone

Difficulty

The riff requires clean arpeggiation with moderate syncopation and timing to the rotary effect, but does not involve advanced techniques or high speed.

Sources

Electric Etudes: Clapton’s “Cream” Years - Premier Guitar Effects for the classic Cream era songs | Guitar Forum Cream - Badge effect | Guitar Forum

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