Riff Tone

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The Beatles

Guitarrock1960s

Original Gear

Guitar1963 Rickenbacker 360/12 (rhythm), 1961 Fender Stratocaster (overdub fills)

Amp1964 Vox AC100 head with 4x12 cabinet (Celestion T1088 12-inch speakers, Goodmans Midax horns)

PickupsRickenbacker single-coil (rhythm), Fender Stratocaster single-coil (fills)

Amp Settings

gain2.5

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble7

reverb1

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1965. Rhythm riff is the clean 12-string part, likely Lennon on Rickenbacker 360/12 and/or Harrison on Stratocaster. No evidence of pedals or effects other than possible light amp reverb. Settings inferred from typical Beatles AC100 clean tones of the era.

Tone Character(10)

bright and janglyarticulate and clearchiming top endtight, percussive attackfull-bodied midsslight natural compressionclassic British Invasion cleanno audible distortionslightly scooped lowsairy, open sound

Difficulty

The riff requires clean, fast strumming and tight chord changes on a 12-string, but no advanced techniques or complex fingerings.

Sources

The Beatles' guitars & amps: what they played on every album | Guitar World George Harrison's Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Amps | Equipboard

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