Riff Tone
Rosanna
Toto
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarValley Arts Custom Pro (early 1980s, HSS configuration, EMG pickups, maple neck, rosewood board)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1982)
PickupsEMG SA single coils (neck/middle), EMG 85 humbucker (bridge)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid6
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown, likely Boss CE-1 or Roland Dimension D)
Notes
Studio recording for 'Rosanna' riff section (Toto IV, 1982). Lukather used a Valley Arts Custom Pro with EMG pickups into a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ for the clean rhythm parts. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the original studio clean tone.
Tone Character(10)
crystal-clear and glassytight, percussive attackbright and articulate highsslightly compressed for even dynamicssnappy, funky responseshimmering chorus modulationstudio-polished clarityno audible overdrive or breakupdistinct stereo image80s pop/rock sheen
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced rhythmic precision, tight muting, and dynamic control to achieve the percussive, funky feel and clarity of the original recording. The clean tone exposes any mistakes, making accuracy and groove essential.
Sources
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarValley Arts Custom Pro (early 1980s, HSS configuration, EMG pickups, maple neck, rosewood board)
AmpMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ (studio recording, 1982)
PickupsEMG SA single coils (neck/middle), EMG 85 humbucker (bridge)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid6
treble6.5
reverb3.5
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown, likely Boss CE-1 or Roland Dimension D)
Notes
Studio recording for 'Rosanna' riff section (Toto IV, 1982). Lukather used a Valley Arts Custom Pro with EMG pickups into a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ for the clean rhythm parts. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the original studio clean tone.
Tone Character(10)
crystal-clear and glassytight, percussive attackbright and articulate highsslightly compressed for even dynamicssnappy, funky responseshimmering chorus modulationstudio-polished clarityno audible overdrive or breakupdistinct stereo image80s pop/rock sheen
Difficulty
The riff requires advanced rhythmic precision, tight muting, and dynamic control to achieve the percussive, funky feel and clarity of the original recording. The clean tone exposes any mistakes, making accuracy and groove essential.
Rosanna settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
More Toto tones
- Hold the Line · riff
- Rosanna · solo
- Georgy Porgy · solo
- Rosanna · riff
- Africa · clean
- Child's Anthem · riff
- Child's Anthem · solo
- Georgy Porgy · riff
- Georgy Porgy · riff
- Hold the Line · solo