Riff Tone

Disorder

Joy Division

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

Guitar1970s Gibson SG Standard

AmpVox AC30 (1970s, likely Top Boost model)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely stock, late 70s)

Amp Settings

gain4.5

bass5

mid7.5

treble5.5

reverb1

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1979. Bernard Sumner played the main riff on a Gibson SG through a Vox AC30 with amp overdrive. No evidence of pedals or outboard effects for the riff section. Settings inferred from era, genre, and available forum discussions. No studio documentation found for exact knob positions.

Tone Character(10)

bright but not harshpercussive attackslightly gritty edgearticulate single-note riffminimal reverbno modulation effectsmid-forwardtight and focusedslightly compressedclear note separation

Difficulty

The riff is fast and requires tight alternate picking and rhythmic precision, but uses simple fretting and no advanced techniques.

Sources

[QUESTION] Joy Division Sound : r/Guitar - Reddit How to achieve this Joy Division guitar tone? : r/guitarpedals - Reddit What reverb and drive pedal are used by Joy Division on Unknown ...Joy Divison/New Order/Bernard Sumner - Guitar Sound - Reddit

Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear

Create Free Account