Riff Tone
Eye in the Sky
The Alan Parsons Project
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s-early 1980s, as used by Ian Bairnson in this era)
AmpMarshall amplifier (exact model unknown, likely JMP or JCM800 series typical for early 1980s studio rock recordings)
PickupsHumbucker (likely stock Gibson humbuckers of the era)
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass6
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb2.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1981-1982. No direct evidence of pedals or effects for the riff section; most sources focus on the solo. Gear inferred from era, genre, and known player (Ian Bairnson).
Tone Character(9)
clean but slightly pushedwarm and roundedarticulate and presentclear note separationmild amp breakupstudio-polished clarityno audible modulationno heavy distortionclassic rock rhythm voicing
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically tight but not technically demanding; the main challenge is clean, precise chord work and timing with the groove.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s-early 1980s, as used by Ian Bairnson in this era)
AmpMarshall amplifier (exact model unknown, likely JMP or JCM800 series typical for early 1980s studio rock recordings)
PickupsHumbucker (likely stock Gibson humbuckers of the era)
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass6
mid6.5
treble6.5
reverb2.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1981-1982. No direct evidence of pedals or effects for the riff section; most sources focus on the solo. Gear inferred from era, genre, and known player (Ian Bairnson).
Tone Character(9)
clean but slightly pushedwarm and roundedarticulate and presentclear note separationmild amp breakupstudio-polished clarityno audible modulationno heavy distortionclassic rock rhythm voicing
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically tight but not technically demanding; the main challenge is clean, precise chord work and timing with the groove.
More The Alan Parsons Project tones
- Eye in the Sky · riff
- Eye in the Sky · clean
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