Riff Tone

I Ran (So Far Away) [Single Edit]

A Flock of Seagulls

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1981 Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or US, as used by Paul Reynolds in studio)

AmpRoland Jazz Chorus JC-120 (studio, highly likely based on era, genre, and chorus sound; some sources mention Marshall JCM800 or J-45 for covers, but original is widely believed to be JC-120)

PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock Stratocaster, likely all single-coil, possibly with hotter bridge)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5

mid4.5

treble7.5

reverb6

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

delayRoland Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo (or similar tape echo/chorus unit)

chorusUnknown Analog Chorus pedal (model unknown, possibly built-in JC-120 chorus or Boss CE-2)

compressionUnknown Compressor pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 1981-1982. Clean riff section. All evidence points to a Stratocaster into a Roland JC-120 with chorus and heavy delay. Chorus and delay are essential to the signature sound. No evidence of distortion or overdrive in the clean riff. Pickup position likely in-between (positions 2 or 4) for glassy, quacky tone.

Tone Character(10)

bright and melodicglassy and quacky Strat soundlush chorus shimmerspacious, ambient delaytight, percussive pickingclean processed tonepseudo-doubling effectno audible distortionarticulate attacknew wave, synth-like clarity

Difficulty

The riff is not technically difficult in terms of fretting or speed, but requires precise picking, muting, and timing to lock in with the delay repeats and maintain clarity with heavy effects.

Sources

I Ran (So Far Away) - Effect/Amp Settings A Flock of Seagulls Members, Gear & Sound 11-20 - The greatest delay moments of all time: 25 classic guitar tracks elevated by echo - Page 2 | Guitar World

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