Riff Tone
"Heroes" (2017 Remaster)
David Bowie
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335TD CRS Country Rock Stereo
AmpFender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s studio model)
PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock ES-335TD CRS)
Amp Settings
gain4.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1977 at Hansa Studio, Berlin. Carlos Alomar played the main riff using his ES-335TD CRS into a Fender Twin Reverb with minimal effects. No evidence of pedal use for the riff section; effects were primarily studio rack units or amp reverb. Gear confirmed for studio recording, not live.
Tone Character(10)
warm and richclean but with slight edgearticulate rhythmslightly compressedsubtle amp reverbfull-bodied midrangenot overly brightdynamic and responsiveclear note separationclassic late-70s studio rock
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically tight and requires clean, consistent picking with good timing, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast playing.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335TD CRS Country Rock Stereo
AmpFender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s studio model)
PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock ES-335TD CRS)
Amp Settings
gain4.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1977 at Hansa Studio, Berlin. Carlos Alomar played the main riff using his ES-335TD CRS into a Fender Twin Reverb with minimal effects. No evidence of pedal use for the riff section; effects were primarily studio rack units or amp reverb. Gear confirmed for studio recording, not live.
Tone Character(10)
warm and richclean but with slight edgearticulate rhythmslightly compressedsubtle amp reverbfull-bodied midrangenot overly brightdynamic and responsiveclear note separationclassic late-70s studio rock
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically tight and requires clean, consistent picking with good timing, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast playing.
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