Riff Tone

Brand New Day

Sting

Guitarother1990s

Original Gear

GuitarRoland VG-8 (guitar-synth system, likely using a Roland GK-equipped guitar or Strat-style MIDI guitar)

AmpRoland VG-8 amp/cabinet modeling (no traditional amp used; all tones generated by VG-8 system)

PickupsRoland GK hexaphonic pickup (MIDI synth pickup), likely paired with standard single coils or humbuckers depending on the guitar used with VG-8

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble6.5

reverb4

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1999. Sting stated he wrote and recorded most of 'Brand New Day' on a Roland VG-8 guitar-synth system, using its internal amp/cab modeling and synth sounds for the riff section. No evidence of traditional amp or pedalboard for the main riff. Effects and amp tones are digital and programmed within the VG-8.

Tone Character(10)

synth-like cleanwarm and smoothbright and articulatepercussive attackdigital claritysubtle reverbno audible overdrivestudio-polishedclear note separationVG-8 synth textures

Difficulty

The riff requires tight rhythmic accuracy and clean playing to match the digital synth tone, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages.

Sources

Brand New Day – Sting.com

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