Riff Tone
Off the Wall
Michael Jackson
Guitarother1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335
AmpFender Deluxe Reverb (modified, late 1970s/early 1980s studio version)
PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock ES-335)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5.5
mid6.5
treble7
reverb3
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionMXR MXR Dyna Comp
Notes
Studio recording, 1979. Paul Jackson Jr. played the main riff on the original album version. Gear inferred from interviews about his session work in this era. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this specific part.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiveclean and glassyarticulate chord stabsslightly compressedwarm midrangesnappy attackstudio-clean clarityminimal breakuprounded highsdynamic response to picking
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate-level funk rhythm skills, including tight muting, syncopation, and dynamic control for clean, percussive articulation.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarother1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335
AmpFender Deluxe Reverb (modified, late 1970s/early 1980s studio version)
PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock ES-335)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5.5
mid6.5
treble7
reverb3
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
compressionMXR MXR Dyna Comp
Notes
Studio recording, 1979. Paul Jackson Jr. played the main riff on the original album version. Gear inferred from interviews about his session work in this era. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this specific part.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussiveclean and glassyarticulate chord stabsslightly compressedwarm midrangesnappy attackstudio-clean clarityminimal breakuprounded highsdynamic response to picking
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate-level funk rhythm skills, including tight muting, syncopation, and dynamic control for clean, percussive articulation.
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