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Riff Tone

If You Love Somebody Set Them Free

Sting

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s-early 1980s, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)

AmpRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus

PickupsFender single-coil (stock Strat pickups, 3 single-coil configuration)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5

mid6

treble7

reverb3.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1984-1985. Guitarist on the track is Dominic Miller (live) but the studio recording features session guitarist Hiram Bullock. The Roland JC-120 is widely documented as the studio amp for Sting's early solo work, prized for its clean, chorus-laden sound. No evidence of overdrive/distortion pedals or amp gain. All evidence and audio point to a clean, chorus-heavy tone with possible light reverb. No evidence of other effects or pedals in the riff section.

Tone Character(10)

bright and glassylush stereo chorusclean and articulatepercussive and funkytight, syncopated rhythmshimmering highssingle-coil claritystudio-polishedno breakup or distortiondynamic response to picking

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate-level funk rhythm skills, including tight muting, syncopation, and dynamic picking to achieve the clean, percussive sound. No advanced solos or complex chord voicings, but rhythmic precision is essential.

Sources

If You Love Somebody Set Them Free Tab by Sting (Guitar Pro)Sting | Equipboard If You Love Somebody Set Them Free - Wikipedia

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Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1970s-early 1980s, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)

AmpRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus

PickupsFender single-coil (stock Strat pickups, 3 single-coil configuration)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5

mid6

treble7

reverb3.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Sources

If You Love Somebody Set Them Free Tab by Sting (Guitar Pro)Sting | Equipboard If You Love Somebody Set Them Free - Wikipedia

Notes

Studio recording, 1984-1985. Guitarist on the track is Dominic Miller (live) but the studio recording features session guitarist Hiram Bullock. The Roland JC-120 is widely documented as the studio amp for Sting's early solo work, prized for its clean, chorus-laden sound. No evidence of overdrive/distortion pedals or amp gain. All evidence and audio point to a clean, chorus-heavy tone with possible light reverb. No evidence of other effects or pedals in the riff section.

Tone Character(10)

bright and glassylush stereo chorusclean and articulatepercussive and funkytight, syncopated rhythmshimmering highssingle-coil claritystudio-polishedno breakup or distortiondynamic response to picking

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate-level funk rhythm skills, including tight muting, syncopation, and dynamic picking to achieve the clean, percussive sound. No advanced solos or complex chord voicings, but rhythmic precision is essential.

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