Riff Tone

Going Underground

The Jam

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarRickenbacker 330 (black, standard model, as used in video and confirmed by Weller for recording)

AmpVox AC30 (cranked, no pedals, as per Weller interview)

PickupsRickenbacker Hi-Gain single-coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble7.5

reverb1.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1979-1980. Paul Weller explicitly states the riff/rhythm parts were tracked with his black Rickenbacker 330 into a Vox AC30, no pedals, amp cranked for natural overdrive. No effects pedals used; all overdrive is amp-based. Possible use of corrugated iron sheets around the amp for extra brightness, as per producer Vic Smith's technique.

Tone Character(10)

bright and metallicrazor sharp attackarticulate and percussivemidrange-forwardchiming top endtight, punchy rhythmslightly compressednatural amp overdriveclear note separationclassic mod/punk edge

Difficulty

The riff is rhythmically driving and requires fast, tight downstrokes and clean chord changes, but uses straightforward chord shapes and no advanced techniques.

Sources

Paul Weller on The Jam's Going Underground: “It wasn't one of ...

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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