Riff Tone

Hard Skool

Guns N' Roses

Guitarrock2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (Slash signature, likely 2010s reissue)

AmpMarshall Silver Jubilee 2555 head

PickupsSeymour Duncan APH-2s Alnico II Pro Slash Humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveUnknown Overdrive pedal (model unknown, likely always-on boost)

Notes

Studio recording, 2021. Slash and Richard Fortus both tracked guitars; Slash's main riff tone is the focus. Fortus likely used a Gretsch or Les Paul with Magnatone amps for layering, but the main riff is Slash's Les Paul into Marshall. No evidence of live rig or alternate amp for the studio version.

Tone Character(10)

tight and punchymodern hard rock cruncharticulate pick attackfull-bodied midrangeslightly compressed dynamicsclear note separationaggressive bridge pickupharmonic overtonescontrolled feedback on accentsfocused low end

Difficulty

The riff requires solid alternate picking and palm muting at a moderate tempo, with tight rhythmic control and accenting, but does not involve advanced techniques or high speed.

Sources

Guns N' Roses drop hard-rocking new single, Hard Skool | Guitar World Quintessential Rock Rigs by Decade - Premier Guitar Slash's Blues Ball Band Rig Rundown: Dive into the Gear - Premier Guitar GNR's sound - forum topic

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