Riff Tone

The Living Years

Mike + The Mechanics

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (exact model not specified, likely late 1970s or 1980s, as used by Mike Rutherford in this era)

AmpRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (likely, based on era, genre, and typical studio choices for clean tones in late 1980s pop/rock; no explicit source confirmation for this song, but no evidence of Marshall or other amps for this clean tone)

PickupsFender single-coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain0

bass6

mid6.5

treble7

reverb5

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1988. Mike Rutherford is known for using clean, chorus-rich tones in this era. No evidence of pedal use for the riff section; clean amp tone with possible studio chorus and reverb. No evidence of overdrive or distortion for the riff. Settings and effects are estimated based on genre, era, and audible tone.

Tone Character(10)

clean and shimmeringbright and articulatelush chorus effectwarm and smoothclear note separationstudio-polishedsubtle reverb ambienceprecise, single-note pickingno audible distortionopen, airy chords

Difficulty

The riff requires clean, articulate picking and dynamic control, but does not involve complex techniques or fast passages, making it accessible to most players with basic skills.

Sources

Mike Rutherford: Back in the Shop with the Mechanics - Premier Guitar

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