Solo Tone
Careless Whisper
George Michael
Guitarother1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1967 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop
AmpFender Twin Reverb (possibly Marshall JTM45 also used for layering)
PickupsP90 single-coil (stock on 1967 Goldtop)
Amp Settings
gain2.5
bass6
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb4.5
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionUnknown Compression pedal (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 1984, Sarm Studios London. Session guitarist Hugh Burns. Clean melodic lead for solo section. No evidence of live performance gear for this part.
Tone Character(10)
smooth and cleansubtle and melodicwarm neck pickup tonerounded highssoft attacklow in the mixslight studio compressiongentle sustainnot bright or spikyclassic 1980s pop ballad texture
Difficulty
The solo is technically straightforward but demands precise clean playing, dynamic control, and melodic phrasing to match the subtle, expressive style of the original.
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Create Free AccountGuitarother1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1967 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop
AmpFender Twin Reverb (possibly Marshall JTM45 also used for layering)
PickupsP90 single-coil (stock on 1967 Goldtop)
Amp Settings
gain2.5
bass6
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb4.5
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionUnknown Compression pedal (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 1984, Sarm Studios London. Session guitarist Hugh Burns. Clean melodic lead for solo section. No evidence of live performance gear for this part.
Tone Character(10)
smooth and cleansubtle and melodicwarm neck pickup tonerounded highssoft attacklow in the mixslight studio compressiongentle sustainnot bright or spikyclassic 1980s pop ballad texture
Difficulty
The solo is technically straightforward but demands precise clean playing, dynamic control, and melodic phrasing to match the subtle, expressive style of the original.
More George Michael tones
- Careless Whisper · riff
- Careless Whisper · solo