Riff Tone
Steppin' Out
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Guitarblues1960s
Original Gear
Guitar1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard ('Beano Burst')
AmpMarshall Model 1962 'Bluesbreaker' combo (JTM45 circuit, 2x12" speakers)
PickupsGibson PAF humbuckers (double black bridge, double white neck, unpotted, vintage spec)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass7
mid7.5
treble7
reverb2
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1966. No pedals or external effects confirmed; guitar plugged straight into the amp, which was cranked for natural overdrive. No evidence of live rig or pedal use on this recording.
Tone Character(10)
singing sustainedge-of-breakup crunchwarm, thick midrangetouch-sensitive dynamicsfat, harmonically rich overdriveresponsive to picking attackclassic British blues toneno pedal colorationopen, airy top endnatural amp compression
Difficulty
The riff is challenging due to its fast tempo, intricate blues phrasing, and the need for dynamic control to achieve the touch-sensitive, singing sustain of the cranked amp.
Sources
“The tone EC achieved on that record has become one of the classic archetypes for how an electric guitar should sound”: How Eric Clapton got his tone on John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers’ ‘Beano’ album | Guitar WorldEric Clapton's 50 Greatest Guitar Moments | Guitar WorldBlues Breakers - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album
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Create Free AccountGuitarblues1960s
Original Gear
Guitar1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard ('Beano Burst')
AmpMarshall Model 1962 'Bluesbreaker' combo (JTM45 circuit, 2x12" speakers)
PickupsGibson PAF humbuckers (double black bridge, double white neck, unpotted, vintage spec)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass7
mid7.5
treble7
reverb2
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Sources
“The tone EC achieved on that record has become one of the classic archetypes for how an electric guitar should sound”: How Eric Clapton got his tone on John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers’ ‘Beano’ album | Guitar WorldEric Clapton's 50 Greatest Guitar Moments | Guitar WorldBlues Breakers - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album
Notes
Studio recording, 1966. No pedals or external effects confirmed; guitar plugged straight into the amp, which was cranked for natural overdrive. No evidence of live rig or pedal use on this recording.
Tone Character(10)
singing sustainedge-of-breakup crunchwarm, thick midrangetouch-sensitive dynamicsfat, harmonically rich overdriveresponsive to picking attackclassic British blues toneno pedal colorationopen, airy top endnatural amp compression
Difficulty
The riff is challenging due to its fast tempo, intricate blues phrasing, and the need for dynamic control to achieve the touch-sensitive, singing sustain of the cranked amp.
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