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Riff Tone

Boys Don't Cry

The Cure

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson ES-175 (single pickup, black, as seen in official music video and period photos)

AmpRoland Jazz Chorus JC-120

PickupsGibson P-90 single-coil (neck position, likely original spec for ES-175 of this era)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5

mid6.5

treble7.5

reverb2.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger

Notes

Studio recording, 1979 (Three Imaginary Boys sessions). Guitar and amp confirmed by period video and multiple gear sources. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. Effects are all pedal-based; JC-120 used for its signature clean sound and stereo chorus. Pickup selector: neck position (single pickup model).

Tone Character(10)

bright and janglyarticulate and clearmodulation shimmer (chorus/flanger)tight and percussive attackminimal breakup (very clean)slightly scooped midsairy and opendistinct note separationsubtle stereo widthcrisp high end

Difficulty

The riff is fast and requires tight, consistent strumming with clean articulation, but uses simple chord shapes and no advanced techniques.

Sources

Robert Smith — Equipboard how can I sound like the cure? : r/guitarpedals

This tone has been researched 6 times by the community

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Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson ES-175 (single pickup, black, as seen in official music video and period photos)

AmpRoland Jazz Chorus JC-120

PickupsGibson P-90 single-coil (neck position, likely original spec for ES-175 of this era)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5

mid6.5

treble7.5

reverb2.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger

Sources

Robert Smith — Equipboard how can I sound like the cure? : r/guitarpedals

This tone has been researched 6 times by the community

Notes

Studio recording, 1979 (Three Imaginary Boys sessions). Guitar and amp confirmed by period video and multiple gear sources. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. Effects are all pedal-based; JC-120 used for its signature clean sound and stereo chorus. Pickup selector: neck position (single pickup model).

Tone Character(10)

bright and janglyarticulate and clearmodulation shimmer (chorus/flanger)tight and percussive attackminimal breakup (very clean)slightly scooped midsairy and opendistinct note separationsubtle stereo widthcrisp high end

Difficulty

The riff is fast and requires tight, consistent strumming with clean articulation, but uses simple chord shapes and no advanced techniques.

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Boys Don't Cry settings for your amp

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.

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