Riff Tone

Fly By Night

Rush

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson ES-335

AmpMarshall 50-watt head with single 4x12 cabinet and Fender Twin Reverb

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock ES-335)

Amp Settings

gain5.5

bass6.5

mid6

treble7

reverb1

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

delayMaestro Echoplex (tape echo, likely EP-3)

Notes

Studio recording, 1974; Alex Lifeson confirmed using a Gibson ES-335 into both a Fender Twin and a Marshall 50-watt with a single 4x12 cabinet for the Fly By Night album. Echoplex was his only effect. Settings are for the studio recording, not live.

Tone Character(10)

defined, moderately gainyBritish crunchtight, punchy rhythmclear note separationclassic rock drivearticulate attackfull-bodied midrangenot overly saturatedslight edge of breakupdynamic response

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, punchy rhythm playing with accurate muting and chord stabs, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast runs.

Sources

Fly By Night - Rush Tone - forum topic | Ultimate Guitar Alex Lifeson breaks down 11 landmark Rush songs | Guitar World Amp for early Rush/Lifeson tones (1974-1977)? - The Gear Page

This tone has been researched 5 times by the community

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