Riff Tone

Love Song

Tesla

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (late 1970s/early 1980s, likely tobacco burst, as used by Frank Hannon on 'Love Song')

AmpHiwatt Custom 100 (DR103) head with matching Hiwatt 4x12 cabinet

PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely stock or PAF-style, passive)

Amp Settings

gain4

bass6

mid6.5

treble6.5

reverb3

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1989. Frank Hannon is documented using a Hiwatt amp and Les Paul for Tesla's 'Love Song' era. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the clean riff section. No pedalboard effects confirmed for the clean intro/riff in studio.

Tone Character(10)

chiming and bell-likewarm but clearslightly scooped midsopen and dynamicarticulate note separationsubtle natural reverbno audible compressionno modulation or chorusclassic late-80s clean rockfull-bodied neck pickup sound

Difficulty

The clean riff requires accurate arpeggiated picking and control of open strings, but is not technically advanced; intermediate players can master it with attention to dynamics and muting.

Sources

Frank Hannon, Tesla Guitarist Gear | Equipboard

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