Riff Tone
Starless
King Crimson
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom 'Black Beauty' (likely 3-pickup, 1970s model)
AmpHiwatt DR103 Custom 100 (modded, 1970s studio version)
PickupsHumbuckers (Gibson PAF-style, 3-pickup configuration)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb1
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Triangle or Ram's Head era, likely V1/V2)
delayUnknown Tape Echo (model unknown, likely Maestro Echoplex or similar)
Notes
Studio recording, 1974, for the 'Red' album. Evidence from multiple sources and era photos points to Fripp using his Les Paul Custom into a Hiwatt DR103 with a Big Muff fuzz and tape echo for the main riff. No evidence of live/touring gear or later-era digital rigs for this section.
Tone Character(10)
smooth and mellowlong sustainfuzzy and saturatedrounded top endslightly compressedwarm neck pickup tonerich midrangenot overly brightslight tape echo ambiencefull-bodied
Difficulty
The riff demands intermediate technique due to its sustained, expressive phrasing, dynamic control, and the need to manage fuzz sustain and tone knob settings for the signature mellow sound.
Sources
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Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom 'Black Beauty' (likely 3-pickup, 1970s model)
AmpHiwatt DR103 Custom 100 (modded, 1970s studio version)
PickupsHumbuckers (Gibson PAF-style, 3-pickup configuration)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6.5
mid7
treble6.5
reverb1
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Triangle or Ram's Head era, likely V1/V2)
delayUnknown Tape Echo (model unknown, likely Maestro Echoplex or similar)
Notes
Studio recording, 1974, for the 'Red' album. Evidence from multiple sources and era photos points to Fripp using his Les Paul Custom into a Hiwatt DR103 with a Big Muff fuzz and tape echo for the main riff. No evidence of live/touring gear or later-era digital rigs for this section.
Tone Character(10)
smooth and mellowlong sustainfuzzy and saturatedrounded top endslightly compressedwarm neck pickup tonerich midrangenot overly brightslight tape echo ambiencefull-bodied
Difficulty
The riff demands intermediate technique due to its sustained, expressive phrasing, dynamic control, and the need to manage fuzz sustain and tone knob settings for the signature mellow sound.
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