Riff Tone

Just What I Needed

The Cars

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (1970s, likely 1976-77, used by Elliot Easton on debut album)

AmpFender Twin Reverb (Silverface, late 1970s, studio recording)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, likely T-Top or similar 1970s PAF-style)

Amp Settings

gain5.5

bass6

mid7

treble7.5

reverb3

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1977-1978, debut album sessions. Easton used a Les Paul Standard into a Fender Twin Reverb for the main riff. No chorus pedal was used; any chorus effect was achieved via double-tracking and varispeed in the studio. No evidence of Marshall or Vox for this specific part. Pedal use was minimal, with only a Morley EVO-1 Echo Volume (for delay) and Boss CE-1 (not used on this track per Easton and producer).

Tone Character(10)

tight and punchybright and articulateslightly compressedfocused midrangepercussive attackclear note separationmodest amp breakupstudio double-tracking for widthno modulation pedalclassic late-70s rock crunch

Difficulty

The riff requires tight palm muting and precise chord changes at a moderate tempo, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast lead work.

Sources

Elliot Easton: “People think I use a chorus pedal because of the sounds I recorded with the Cars. That’s actually the last thing I’d want on my pedalboard!“ | Guitar World Elliot Easton's Cars rig | The Gear Page The Cars - Best Friend's Girl tone? - The Gear Page

This tone has been researched 3 times by the community

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