Riff Tone

Personal Jesus

Depeche Mode

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGretsch Double Anniversary (Dick Knight copy)

AmpFender Bronco Amp (1967-1980)

PickupsGretsch Filter'Tron-style humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain5.5

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble6.5

reverb2

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1989. Guitar is a custom Dick Knight-built Gretsch Double Anniversary copy with Filter'Tron-style pickups. Amp is a Fender Bronco combo. No evidence of pedals or additional effects used on the original studio riff; later live versions may differ.

Tone Character(10)

bright and percussivetight, punchy low endslightly gritty edge-of-breakup crunchclear attack and articulationminimal sustainstaccato, rhythmic playingtwangy, almost tele-like snapdry, upfront soundno audible modulation or delayamp-driven overdrive

Difficulty

The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires tight, percussive muting and precise articulation to capture the song's signature groove and attack.

Sources

Martin Gore's Guitar Gear - Equipboard

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