Riff Tone
Helpless
Neil Young & Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335 (likely 1959, as used by Neil Young on 'Helpless' studio recording)
Amp1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe 5E3
PickupsGibson PAF humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain6
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb5
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1969-1970. Neil Young used his 1959 Gibson ES-335 with PAF humbuckers into his signature 1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe 5E3 amp. No evidence of pedals or effects other than amp and outboard spring reverb. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this specific recording.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothedge-of-breakup crunchorganic tube sagdynamic and touch-sensitiveslightly compressedopen and woodyrich midrangesmooth top endnatural amp breakupclassic tweed character
Difficulty
The riff section of 'Helpless' is based on simple open chords with a slow tempo and straightforward strumming, making it accessible to beginners with minimal technical challenge.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335 (likely 1959, as used by Neil Young on 'Helpless' studio recording)
Amp1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe 5E3
PickupsGibson PAF humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain6
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb5
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1969-1970. Neil Young used his 1959 Gibson ES-335 with PAF humbuckers into his signature 1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe 5E3 amp. No evidence of pedals or effects other than amp and outboard spring reverb. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this specific recording.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothedge-of-breakup crunchorganic tube sagdynamic and touch-sensitiveslightly compressedopen and woodyrich midrangesmooth top endnatural amp breakupclassic tweed character
Difficulty
The riff section of 'Helpless' is based on simple open chords with a slow tempo and straightforward strumming, making it accessible to beginners with minimal technical challenge.