Riff Tone

Pictures of You

The Cure

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Bass VI

AmpRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus

PickupsFender single-coil (Bass VI stock pickups)

Amp Settings

gain3.5

bass6

mid6

treble6.5

reverb7

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveBoss Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive

flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger

chorusBoss Boss CE-2 Chorus

delayBoss Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Notes

Studio recording, Disintegration era (1989). Robert Smith is widely reported to have used the Fender Bass VI for the main riff/chorus sections of 'Pictures of You', with a Roland JC-120 amp. Multiple sources confirm this pairing for the Disintegration album. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this section in the studio.

Tone Character(10)

lush and modulatedbright and shimmeringexpansive stereo imageclear note separationslightly driven edge-of-breakupambient and dreamychorus/flanger swirlrich sustainjangly attackmedium dynamic response

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate skill due to the need for precise picking, managing modulation/delay clarity, and maintaining rhythmic consistency with arpeggiated patterns.

Sources

Robert Smith | Equipboard how can I sound like the cure? : r/guitarpedals The Cure....Pictures of You - Telecaster Guitar Forum How to Sound Like the Cure on Guitar : r/TheCure This is all you need to sound like Robert Smith. : r/TheCure

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