Riff Tone
Boys Don't Cry
The Cure
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Telecaster (likely late 1970s, as used by Robert Smith on early Cure recordings)
AmpPeavey Classic 50 (combo, as used on 'Three Imaginary Boys' era recordings)
PickupsSingle-coil (Fender Telecaster stock single-coils)
Amp Settings
gain3
bass5
mid6
treble7.5
reverb2.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1978-1979. Gear based on era and Robert Smith's documented use for 'Three Imaginary Boys' and 'Boys Don't Cry' sessions. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and janglyarticulate single notestight, percussive attackslightly compressedmodest amp reverbclean with a hint of breakupchiming, cutting highsdynamic response to pickingclassic post-punk clarityno heavy distortion
Difficulty
The riff is fast and requires tight alternate picking and rhythmic precision, but uses simple open and barre chord shapes without advanced techniques.
Sources
This tone has been researched 3 times by the community
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Telecaster (likely late 1970s, as used by Robert Smith on early Cure recordings)
AmpPeavey Classic 50 (combo, as used on 'Three Imaginary Boys' era recordings)
PickupsSingle-coil (Fender Telecaster stock single-coils)
Amp Settings
gain3
bass5
mid6
treble7.5
reverb2.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
This tone has been researched 3 times by the community
Notes
Studio recording, 1978-1979. Gear based on era and Robert Smith's documented use for 'Three Imaginary Boys' and 'Boys Don't Cry' sessions. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and janglyarticulate single notestight, percussive attackslightly compressedmodest amp reverbclean with a hint of breakupchiming, cutting highsdynamic response to pickingclassic post-punk clarityno heavy distortion
Difficulty
The riff is fast and requires tight alternate picking and rhythmic precision, but uses simple open and barre chord shapes without advanced techniques.
Boys Don't Cry settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
More The Cure tones
- Boys Don't Cry · riff
- Just Like Heaven · riff
- A Forest · riff
- I Just Need Myself (PSI Studio Demo 1/78) · riff
- I Just Need Myself (PSI Studio Demo 1/78) · solo
- 10:15 Saturday Night · riff
- A Forest · riff
- A Forest · clean
- A Strange Day · riff
- Apart · riff