Riff Tone
The Thin Line
Queensrÿche
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard '60s
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203
PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely 490R/498T or similar, stock for era)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
mid6
treble7
reverb1.5
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusBoss Boss CE-2 Chorus
Notes
Studio recording, 1990 (Empire album). Gear inferred from most-cited sources for Queensrÿche's heavy rhythm tones of this era; no direct evidence for 'The Thin Line' riff, but JCM800 and Les Paul are repeatedly cited as the core rig for Empire's heavy sections.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivehigh-gain British cruncharticulate palm-muted chugsrich harmonic overtonesclear note separation under gainfull-bodied low endslightly scooped mids but not hollowchorused stereo widthaggressive pick attackstudio-polished saturation
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, articulate palm muting and precise picking to maintain clarity under high gain, with syncopated rhythms and clean chord changes adding to the challenge.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard '60s
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203
PickupsGibson humbuckers (likely 490R/498T or similar, stock for era)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
mid6
treble7
reverb1.5
presence6.5
Effects & Signal Chain
chorusBoss Boss CE-2 Chorus
Notes
Studio recording, 1990 (Empire album). Gear inferred from most-cited sources for Queensrÿche's heavy rhythm tones of this era; no direct evidence for 'The Thin Line' riff, but JCM800 and Les Paul are repeatedly cited as the core rig for Empire's heavy sections.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivehigh-gain British cruncharticulate palm-muted chugsrich harmonic overtonesclear note separation under gainfull-bodied low endslightly scooped mids but not hollowchorused stereo widthaggressive pick attackstudio-polished saturation
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, articulate palm muting and precise picking to maintain clarity under high gain, with syncopated rhythms and clean chord changes adding to the challenge.
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