Solo Tone

Diamond Dust

Jeff Beck

Guitarjazz1970s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (early '70s Olympic White or stripped early '60s body with mid-'70s rosewood neck)

AmpAmpeg VT-40 combo amp (early '70s, 4x10" speakers)

PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock Stratocaster single coils, likely all original or period-correct replacements)

Amp Settings

gain5.5

bass4.5

mid7.5

treble6

reverb2

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveColorsound Colorsound Overdriver

wahDunlop Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

otherZB Custom ZB Custom Volume Pedal

Notes

Studio recording, 1974 for 'Blow by Blow' album. Beck used his Stratocaster for the solo, as confirmed by multiple sources referencing the vibrato bar use and tonal characteristics. Effects chain included Colorsound Overdriver and Cry Baby wah. Settings inferred from period-correct Ampeg VT-40 usage and genre. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this solo.

Tone Character(10)

singing sustainwarm and smoothmidrange punchtouch-sensitiveviolin-like leadexpressive vibratoclear note separationthickened Strat tonemelodic phrasingedge-of-breakup overdrive

Difficulty

The solo requires advanced control of dynamics, expressive vibrato, and whammy bar technique, as well as precise volume pedal use and melodic phrasing, making it challenging even for experienced guitarists.

Sources

Jeff Beck explains his guitar rig in 1974 | GuitarPlayer Jeff Beck’s Blow by Blow changed instrumental guitar forever | Guitar World The secrets behind Jeff Beck’s guitar tone on Freeway Jam | Guitar World

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