Riff Tone

Flash of the Blade (2015 Remaster)

Iron Maiden

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s or early 1980s, as used by both Adrian Smith and Dave Murray on 'Somewhere in Time')

AmpGallien-Krueger 250ML

PickupsDiMarzio Super Distortion (bridge, Dave Murray); stock Fender single coils or DiMarzio HS-3 (Adrian Smith); likely bridge humbucker for main riff

Amp Settings

gain7

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble7

reverb1.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1986 (2015 Remaster is a remaster of the 1986 recording). Both Adrian Smith and Dave Murray used Gallien-Krueger 250ML amps for the album. Guitar likely a Stratocaster with a humbucker in the bridge for the main riff. No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; tone is dry and direct. Settings estimated based on amp, genre, and era.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivearticulate and cuttinghigh-gain solid-state saturationfocused low endbright, harmonically rich top endminimal ambiencedry studio soundaggressive palm mutingclear note separationfast attack

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and tight palm muting at a high tempo, demanding advanced right-hand technique and rhythmic precision.

Sources

Iron Maiden – Somewhere in Time (2015 Remaster) - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (2015 Remaster) - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard Iron Maiden Members, Gear & Sound | Equipboard

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