Riff Tone
Pictures of You (2010 Remaster)
The Cure
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Bass VI
AmpVox AC30 (studio recording, late '80s Disintegration sessions)
PickupsFender single-coil (Bass VI stock pickups)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb6.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusBoss Boss CH-1 Super Chorus
flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger
delayBoss Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Notes
Studio recording for 'Pictures of You' (Disintegration, 1989; 2010 Remaster is from this session). Robert Smith used a Fender Bass VI for the main riff, running into a Vox AC30 amp. Chorus and flanger effects were achieved with Boss pedals. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this part.
Tone Character(10)
lush and shimmeringclean and glassydeep swirling modulationambient and dreamyrich, layered effectswarm, full-bodied lowschiming, articulate highssmooth, sustained noteswide stereo imageno audible drive or crunch
Difficulty
The riff is not technically demanding in terms of speed or complex fingerings, but requires careful control of dynamics, clean articulation, and sensitivity to modulation effects for the iconic lush sound.
Sources
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Original Gear
GuitarFender Bass VI
AmpVox AC30 (studio recording, late '80s Disintegration sessions)
PickupsFender single-coil (Bass VI stock pickups)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb6.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusBoss Boss CH-1 Super Chorus
flangerBoss Boss BF-2 Flanger
delayBoss Boss DD-3 Digital Delay
Notes
Studio recording for 'Pictures of You' (Disintegration, 1989; 2010 Remaster is from this session). Robert Smith used a Fender Bass VI for the main riff, running into a Vox AC30 amp. Chorus and flanger effects were achieved with Boss pedals. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this part.
Tone Character(10)
lush and shimmeringclean and glassydeep swirling modulationambient and dreamyrich, layered effectswarm, full-bodied lowschiming, articulate highssmooth, sustained noteswide stereo imageno audible drive or crunch
Difficulty
The riff is not technically demanding in terms of speed or complex fingerings, but requires careful control of dynamics, clean articulation, and sensitivity to modulation effects for the iconic lush sound.
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