Solo Tone

The Sheltering Sky

King Crimson

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarRoland G-303 Guitar Controller

AmpRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus

PickupsRoland G-303 stock humbuckers (for synth triggering, likely DiMarzio Super Distortion or similar)

Amp Settings

gain3

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble6.5

reverb3

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

otherRoland Roland GR-300 Guitar Synthesizer

compressionUnknown Compressor pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 1981 (Discipline sessions). Adrian Belew used the Roland G-303 to control the Roland GR-300 guitar synthesizer for the solo section. The JC-120 was used as the main amp for synth and guitar signals. This is for the original studio version, not live.

Tone Character(10)

synth-like and liquidsmooth, glassy top endmodulated, swirling textureschorus-rich and ambientethereal, sustaining solo voicepolyphonic synth timbremild compressionnot a traditional guitar distortionart-rock/progressive sounddistinctive, futuristic lead

Difficulty

The solo demands advanced technique to coordinate guitar playing with synth triggering, maintain expressive phrasing over a complex rhythmic structure, and control the synth's articulation and dynamics.