Riff Tone

Tales of Brave Ulysses

Cream

Guitarrock1960s

Original Gear

Guitar1964 Gibson SG Standard 'The Fool'

AmpMarshall JTM45 (Bluesbreaker combo or head/cabinet)

PickupsGibson PAF humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6.5

mid7.5

treble7

reverb0

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

wahVox or Thomas Organ Vox V846 Wah (or Thomas Organ Cry Baby Wah)

Notes

Studio recording, Disraeli Gears sessions, 1967. Clapton's 'Fool' SG with PAF humbuckers into a cranked Marshall JTM45. No evidence of fuzz or other gain pedals; distortion from amp. Wah pedal used for riff. No evidence of other pedals or effects.

Tone Character(10)

aggressive wah-wah sweepBritish crunchsinging sustainthick midrangevintage Marshall overdrivefat, vocal-like riff toneclassic rock powerfull-bodied humbucker sounddynamic response to pickingpsychedelic swirling effect

Difficulty

The riff is moderately challenging due to the need for coordinated wah pedal use and expressive picking, but does not require advanced technical skill or fast playing.

Sources

The story of Eric Clapton's Cream guitars | Guitar World CROTM: Eric Clapton (early days) - forum topic Best wah pedals 2026: add an essential tone-shaping effect to your pedalboard with our expert guide | Guitar World What is the most powerful guitar tone ever recorded in a ...

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