Riff Tone

Boulevard of Broken Dreams (BBC Session)

Hanoi Rocks

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1970s-early 1980s, sunburst or black finish, as used by Andy McCoy in this era)

AmpMarshall JMP 2203 (100W head, typical for Andy McCoy in early/mid-1980s studio sessions)

PickupsHumbuckers (likely Gibson PAF-style, stock or vintage replacements)

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, BBC Session, 1984. No direct evidence of pedals or effects for the riff section; gear inferred from era, band interviews, and period photos. No evidence of effects loop or rack effects for the riff.

Tone Character(10)

classic British crunchopen and mid-forwardslightly saturatedclear note separationpunchy attackwarm vintage humbucker sounddynamic response to pickingtight but not compressedstudio ambience onlyno audible modulation or delay

Difficulty

The riff requires solid rhythm skills and dynamic control but uses straightforward chord shapes and moderate tempo, making it accessible to intermediate players.

Sources

Hanoi Rocks- Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Music Video) : r/hairmetal

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