Riff Tone

Cold Shot

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

Guitarblues1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (main 'Number One', 1962/63/64 composite, rosewood board, left-handed tremolo, heavy strings, tuned down half-step)

AmpFender Vibroverb (1964, 1x15), possibly blended with Fender Super Reverb (4x10), both vintage blackface models

PickupsFender single-coil Stratocaster pickups (vintage spec, stock or period-correct replacements)

Amp Settings

gain2.5

bass6.5

mid6.5

treble6

reverb3

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1984 (Couldn't Stand the Weather album). All evidence points to the main studio rig: 'Number One' Strat into a cranked Fender Vibroverb, possibly with a Super Reverb blended in. Clean tone section (riff/verse) uses little to no pedal gain, amp set just at edge of breakup. No evidence of live rig or other guitars/amps for this part.

Tone Character(10)

glassy and articulatewarm, rounded lowsbright but not piercing highsdynamic and touch-sensitivepercussive attackslight edge-of-breakupminimal reverb ambiencefat, full-bodied rhythmclassic Texas blues shuffleclear note separation

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate skill due to its syncopated shuffle groove, dynamic picking, and the need for precise muting and articulation to capture the SRV feel.

Sources

Great Guitar Tone #5: Cold Shot (Stevie Ray Vaughan) - YouTube Stevie Ray Vaughan Amp Settings - Get the Signature SRV Tone!The SECRET to Stevie Ray Vaughan TONE! (Ultimate Guide) – Pedal Pawn Cold Shot Guitar Lesson (Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Version)

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