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Solo Tone

Rockin' In the Free World

Neil Young

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1953 Gibson Les Paul 'Old Black' (heavily modified, mini-humbucker in neck, Firebird pickup in bridge, Bigsby vibrato)

Amp1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3 circuit), cranked

PickupsFirebird mini-humbucker (bridge), P-90 (neck, replaced with mini-humbucker), custom wiring

Amp Settings

gain8

bass6.5

mid7

treble7.5

reverb4

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1989. All evidence points to the classic 'Old Black' Les Paul and the Tweed Deluxe being the core for the solo. No evidence of other guitars or amps for this section. Amp is run at maximum volume and tone for signature distortion. No explicit pedal use confirmed for this recording; distortion is from amp. Plate reverb added in studio. No evidence of delay, chorus, flanger, or wah on the solo. Reverb is from outboard plate, not amp spring.

Tone Character(10)

massive, ragged distortionscreaming, chaotic solo toneraw and uncompresseddynamic and touch-sensitivefuzzy, saturated overdriveexplosive attackloose low endpronounced midrangebright, biting treblesustaining, feedback-prone

Difficulty

The solo is technically intermediate, relying on raw energy, dynamic control, and expressive phrasing rather than speed or complex technique. The challenge is in controlling the feedback and chaos of a cranked amp while maintaining musicality.

Sources

Neil Young's guitar rig: from Old Black to his Fender Deluxe Quintessential Rock Rigs by Decade

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Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1953 Gibson Les Paul 'Old Black' (heavily modified, mini-humbucker in neck, Firebird pickup in bridge, Bigsby vibrato)

Amp1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3 circuit), cranked

PickupsFirebird mini-humbucker (bridge), P-90 (neck, replaced with mini-humbucker), custom wiring

Amp Settings

gain8

bass6.5

mid7

treble7.5

reverb4

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Sources

Neil Young's guitar rig: from Old Black to his Fender Deluxe Quintessential Rock Rigs by Decade

Notes

Studio recording, 1989. All evidence points to the classic 'Old Black' Les Paul and the Tweed Deluxe being the core for the solo. No evidence of other guitars or amps for this section. Amp is run at maximum volume and tone for signature distortion. No explicit pedal use confirmed for this recording; distortion is from amp. Plate reverb added in studio. No evidence of delay, chorus, flanger, or wah on the solo. Reverb is from outboard plate, not amp spring.

Tone Character(10)

massive, ragged distortionscreaming, chaotic solo toneraw and uncompresseddynamic and touch-sensitivefuzzy, saturated overdriveexplosive attackloose low endpronounced midrangebright, biting treblesustaining, feedback-prone

Difficulty

The solo is technically intermediate, relying on raw energy, dynamic control, and expressive phrasing rather than speed or complex technique. The challenge is in controlling the feedback and chaos of a cranked amp while maintaining musicality.

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Rockin' In the Free World by Neil Young — Solo Tone Settings | ToneAdapt