Riff Tone

How Soon Is Now? (12" Version)

The Smiths

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (mid-80s, cherry, with Bigsby, Seymour Duncan pickups, coil tap)

AmpFender Twin Reverb (x4, re-amped in studio, all with tremolo engaged)

PickupsSeymour Duncan humbuckers (exact model unspecified, likely coil-tapped for single-coil-like sound)

Amp Settings

gain4

bass5.5

mid7

treble6.5

reverb6.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

tremoloBoss Boss TR-2 Tremolo (or similar, possibly custom or studio rack tremolo)

Notes

Studio recording, 1984 (released 1985). Rhythm riff section was recorded with a Les Paul Standard into DI, then re-amped through four Fender Twin Reverbs with synchronized tremolo. Producer John Porter and Johnny Marr each controlled two amps for stereo spread. Some sources mention initial tracking with a Roland Jazz Chorus and DI, but the iconic tremolo rhythm is the result of the Twin Reverb re-amp. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for THIS riff section.

Tone Character(10)

pulsating and hypnoticrich, shimmering sustainstereo, bouncing tremolo patternpercussive, chime-like attacklush, modulated textureslightly overdriven clean toneambient, swirling soundscapedistinctive rhythmic pulsedeep tremolo depthstudio-crafted, multi-amp layering

Difficulty

The riff requires advanced timing to lock in with the tremolo effect, precise picking for the percussive attack, and the ability to maintain a hypnotic, even rhythm throughout. Studio layering and synchronization of multiple amps/effects add to the challenge.