Riff Tone

Electric Ocean

The Cult

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1980s Gretsch White Falcon

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet

PickupsGretsch Filter'Tron humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb1

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

otherN/A None (amp-driven crunch)

Notes

Studio recording, 1987 (Electric album sessions). Billy Duffy is confirmed to have used his Gretsch White Falcon and Marshall JCM800 for the main riff sections on 'Electric Ocean'. No evidence of Vox AC30 or Roland JC-120 for this track. Pedals were minimal for the main riff, with focus on amp-driven crunch.

Tone Character(10)

British crunchtight and percussiveopen midrangebright and articulatepunchy attackraw, uncompresseddynamic pick responseminimal sustainno ambient effectsclassic hard rock rhythm

Difficulty

The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires a strong, consistent attack and tight muting for the classic hard rock crunch. No advanced techniques, but precision and energy are essential.

Sources

Rig Rundown: The Cult's Billy Duffy The Cult's "Electric" tone in a pedal? (Warning: Bill Duffy ...)

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