Riff Tone

Picture of the Moon

Gary Moore

Guitarblues2000s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (1959 reissue, likely Peter Green's or Gary Moore's main burst)

AmpMarshall JTM45 reissue head

PickupsPAF-style humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6.5

mid7.5

treble6.5

reverb3

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionMarshall Marshall The Guv'nor

overdriveIbanez Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer Classic

delayBoss Boss DM-2 Delay

Notes

Studio recording, 2001 (Back to the Blues). Gary Moore stated he used a Line 6 POD for writing, but the main riff tone is widely attributed to his Les Paul into a Marshall JTM45, with pedals for overdrive and delay. No evidence of live rig for this song's riff. Effects chain based on studio context and pedalboard photos from the era.

Tone Character(10)

warm and smoothsinging sustainmid-forward crunchtouch-sensitiverich harmonic overtonesslightly compressed attackclear note separationBritish blues-rock flavoredge-of-breakup drivemild amp reverb for space

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate-level control of bends, vibrato, and dynamics to achieve the expressive, singing sustain and phrasing characteristic of Gary Moore's blues style.

Sources

Gary Moore's Les Pauls, Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Amps | Equipboard Gary Moore's Effects Pedals | Equipboard Gary Moore: the virtuoso guitarist who brought rock to blues guitar | Guitar World

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