Riff Tone
I Want You Back
Jackson 5
Guitarother1960s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335
AmpUnknown Motown studio amp (likely Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean tube amp, as used in Motown sessions of the era)
PickupsGibson humbuckers (vintage late-60s spec)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5
mid6.5
treble7.5
reverb3
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1969; session guitarist Louie Shelton played the riff. No direct evidence of pedals or specific amp model, but Motown sessions typically used clean Fender amps. Gear info inferred from Equipboard and Motown recording practices.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatetight and percussiveclean and funkysnappy attackminimal sustainchimey highsclear note separationstaccato rhythmno audible distortionclassic Motown clean
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced rhythmic precision, fast and accurate single-note picking, and tight muting to achieve the signature Motown funk groove. Clean articulation at tempo is challenging for most players.
Sources
This tone has been researched 2 times by the community
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Create Free AccountGuitarother1960s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335
AmpUnknown Motown studio amp (likely Fender Twin Reverb or similar clean tube amp, as used in Motown sessions of the era)
PickupsGibson humbuckers (vintage late-60s spec)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5
mid6.5
treble7.5
reverb3
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
This tone has been researched 2 times by the community
Notes
Studio recording, 1969; session guitarist Louie Shelton played the riff. No direct evidence of pedals or specific amp model, but Motown sessions typically used clean Fender amps. Gear info inferred from Equipboard and Motown recording practices.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatetight and percussiveclean and funkysnappy attackminimal sustainchimey highsclear note separationstaccato rhythmno audible distortionclassic Motown clean
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced rhythmic precision, fast and accurate single-note picking, and tight muting to achieve the signature Motown funk groove. Clean articulation at tempo is challenging for most players.
More Jackson 5 tones
- Darling Dear · clean
- I Want You Back · distorted
- I Want You Back · riff