Riff Tone
Stray Cat Strut
Stray Cats
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1959 Gretsch 6120
Amp1963 Fender Bassman head (6G6-B circuit) with 2x12 cabinet (Oxford 12L6 speakers)
PickupsGretsch Filter'Tron humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass4.5
mid6
treble8
reverb2
presence8
Effects & Signal Chain
delayBoss Boss DM-2 Analog Delay
Notes
Studio recording, 1981; settings and gear confirmed for original studio recording of 'Stray Cat Strut' riff section. No evidence of live/tour substitutions for this part.
Tone Character(10)
slight overdrive at edge of breakupbright and articulatefull-bodied with crisp trebledynamic and touch-sensitiveclassic rockabilly twanggrowling low midrange punchslapback echo depthpercussive attackopen and airyvintage analog warmth
Difficulty
The riff requires tight swing rhythm, hybrid picking, and dynamic control to achieve the touch-sensitive, edge-of-breakup tone. The slapback delay must be precisely timed for authentic rockabilly feel.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1959 Gretsch 6120
Amp1963 Fender Bassman head (6G6-B circuit) with 2x12 cabinet (Oxford 12L6 speakers)
PickupsGretsch Filter'Tron humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain3.5
bass4.5
mid6
treble8
reverb2
presence8
Effects & Signal Chain
delayBoss Boss DM-2 Analog Delay
Notes
Studio recording, 1981; settings and gear confirmed for original studio recording of 'Stray Cat Strut' riff section. No evidence of live/tour substitutions for this part.
Tone Character(10)
slight overdrive at edge of breakupbright and articulatefull-bodied with crisp trebledynamic and touch-sensitiveclassic rockabilly twanggrowling low midrange punchslapback echo depthpercussive attackopen and airyvintage analog warmth
Difficulty
The riff requires tight swing rhythm, hybrid picking, and dynamic control to achieve the touch-sensitive, edge-of-breakup tone. The slapback delay must be precisely timed for authentic rockabilly feel.
Stray Cat Strut settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.