Riff Tone

King of Pain

The Police

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Telecaster (custom, likely 1961, with humbucker in neck and single-coil in bridge)

AmpFender Twin Reverb (Silverface, studio recording)

PickupsNeck: Gibson humbucker, Bridge: Fender single-coil

Amp Settings

gain3.5

bass5

mid6.5

treble7.5

reverb4

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

chorusBoss Chorus pedal (likely Boss CE-1 or CE-2, model not confirmed)

Notes

Studio recording for 'King of Pain' (1983, Synchronicity album). Andy Summers is known for using a custom Telecaster with a neck humbucker and a Fender Twin Reverb amp in the studio during this era. No evidence of Marshall or other amps for this specific track. Effects inferred from both sources and clear audio evidence.

Tone Character(10)

bright and chimeylush chorus shimmerclean with slight edgeambient and spatialclear note separationpercussive attackopen and airy80s studio polishmodulation swirlnot heavily distorted

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate skill due to syncopated chord shapes, precise timing, and the need to maintain clarity and separation with chorus and reverb effects.

Sources

Andy Summers/Police Experts - which effect when?The Police – Synchronicity (Remastered 2003)“Synchronicity” by The Police dropped 40 Years Ago

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