Riff Tone

Closedown

The Cure

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Bass VI (likely Japanese reissue or vintage, as used by Robert Smith on Disintegration)

AmpRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus

PickupsFender single-coil Bass VI pickups

Amp Settings

gain0

bass6

mid6

treble6.5

reverb5

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

chorusBoss Boss CE-2 Chorus (or similar chorus pedal)

flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger (or similar flanger pedal)

Notes

Studio recording, 1988-1989. Robert Smith played the main riff on a Fender Bass VI through a Roland JC-120. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this part. Pedals are inferred from era and audible effects, as well as typical Cure studio setups.

Tone Character(10)

lush and spaciousbright but not harshdeep, atmospheric reverbchorus shimmerclear, bell-like cleanstight, percussive low endmodulation-richwide stereo imagearticulate attackdistinctive Bass VI clarity

Difficulty

The riff requires clean, precise picking and dynamic control to maintain clarity with heavy modulation and reverb, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages.

Sources

Disintegration album gear? : r/TheCure how can I sound like the cure? : r/guitarpedals The Cure's Disintegration at 30 : r/LetsTalkMusic

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