Riff Tone
Charmless Man
Blur
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Telecaster (likely early 1970s, Graham Coxon's main studio guitar for this era)
AmpMarshall head (likely JCM800 or JMP) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
PickupsSingle-coil (Fender Telecaster stock pickups)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass6
mid7
treble7
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
fuzzShin-Ei Shin-Ei FY-2 Companion Fuzz
Notes
Studio recording, 1995-1996 (The Great Escape album sessions). Graham Coxon is known to use Telecasters almost exclusively for Blur's 90s recordings, and sources confirm Marshall heads and 4x12 cabs for this era. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this song's riff section.
Tone Character(10)
raspy, compressed distortionfuzzy, saturated attacktight and punchy rhythmmid-forward, cutting presencearticulate single-coil clarityaggressive, British crunchTownshend-inspired hybrid rhythm/leadslightly nasal upper midspercussive, driving riffingraw, garage-rock edge
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive strumming and control of a high-gain fuzz sound, but uses straightforward chord shapes and rhythm, making it accessible to intermediate players with attention to muting and dynamics.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Telecaster (likely early 1970s, Graham Coxon's main studio guitar for this era)
AmpMarshall head (likely JCM800 or JMP) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
PickupsSingle-coil (Fender Telecaster stock pickups)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass6
mid7
treble7
reverb2
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
fuzzShin-Ei Shin-Ei FY-2 Companion Fuzz
Notes
Studio recording, 1995-1996 (The Great Escape album sessions). Graham Coxon is known to use Telecasters almost exclusively for Blur's 90s recordings, and sources confirm Marshall heads and 4x12 cabs for this era. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this song's riff section.
Tone Character(10)
raspy, compressed distortionfuzzy, saturated attacktight and punchy rhythmmid-forward, cutting presencearticulate single-coil clarityaggressive, British crunchTownshend-inspired hybrid rhythm/leadslightly nasal upper midspercussive, driving riffingraw, garage-rock edge
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive strumming and control of a high-gain fuzz sound, but uses straightforward chord shapes and rhythm, making it accessible to intermediate players with attention to muting and dynamics.
More Blur tones
- Parklife · riff
- Song 2 (2012 Remaster) · riff
- Beetlebum (2012 Remaster) · riff
- Parklife · riff
- Parklife telecaster · riff
- Coffee & TV · riff
- End of a Century · riff
- Explain · riff
- Girls and Boys · riff
- Oily Water · riff