Riff Tone
Contusion
Stevie Wonder
Guitarjazz1970s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s, Michael Sembello's main guitar at the time)
AmpFender Twin Reverb (likely, based on era/session standards and genre; no direct citation found)
PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock 1970s Stratocaster)
Amp Settings
gain4.5
bass5.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb2
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1976. No direct evidence for exact amp or pedals; inference based on era, genre, and session player practices. Michael Sembello played the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatetight and percussiveclean with slight edgefast attackclear note separationglassy Stratocaster highsslightly compresseddynamic responseminimal sustainno audible modulation or delay
Difficulty
The riff section of 'Contusion' is considered expert-level due to its rapid tempo, intricate jazz-fusion lines, and high technical demands on both hands.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarjazz1970s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s, Michael Sembello's main guitar at the time)
AmpFender Twin Reverb (likely, based on era/session standards and genre; no direct citation found)
PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock 1970s Stratocaster)
Amp Settings
gain4.5
bass5.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb2
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1976. No direct evidence for exact amp or pedals; inference based on era, genre, and session player practices. Michael Sembello played the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatetight and percussiveclean with slight edgefast attackclear note separationglassy Stratocaster highsslightly compresseddynamic responseminimal sustainno audible modulation or delay
Difficulty
The riff section of 'Contusion' is considered expert-level due to its rapid tempo, intricate jazz-fusion lines, and high technical demands on both hands.
More Stevie Wonder tones
- Superstition · riff
- Superstition · riff
- Do I Do (Single Version) · distorted
- Do I Do (Single Version) · clean
- I Wish · clean
- Isn't She Lovely · riff
- Sir Duke · clean
- Sir Duke · distorted
- Superstition · distorted
- Superstition · solo