Riff Tone

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

Guitarblues1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1963 Fender Stratocaster

Amp1964 Fender Vibroverb (Blackface, 1x15" speaker, non-reverb model)

PickupsFender single-coil pickups (original 1963 spec)

Amp Settings

gain4

bass7

mid7

treble6.5

reverb3

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveIbanez Ibanez Tube Screamer (likely TS808 or TS9)

Notes

Studio recording for the album 'Texas Flood' (1983). All sources agree SRV used his main 'Number One' Stratocaster and a Fender Vibroverb for the riff section. No evidence of chorus, delay, or modulation effects on the riff section; Dimension D chorus was only used on the solo. Overdrive from Ibanez Tube Screamer(s) is likely, but no evidence of other pedals for the riff. Settings estimated based on era, genre, and typical SRV studio setup.

Tone Character(10)

warm and smoothtouch-sensitiveTexas shuffle feeledge-of-breakup crunchdynamic and percussivefat single-coil clarityslightly compressed attackarticulate note separationmildly scooped midsclassic blues Strat sound

Difficulty

The riff demands advanced blues rhythm technique, including fast shuffle picking, ghost notes, and dynamic muting, making it challenging for most players.

Sources

Stevie Ray Vaughan's amps and effects pedals: an in-depth guide Stevie Ray Vaughan's Guitar Gear, Pedals & Amps - Equipboard SRV Tone: Double Tube Screamers? - forum topic - Ultimate Guitar

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