Riff Tone

The Zephyr Song

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Guitarrock2000s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, rosewood fretboard)

AmpMarshall Major 200W (studio recording, paired with Fender Showman Blackface on some tracks)

PickupsFender single-coil pickups (vintage-style, stock or Custom '60s)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass6

mid6.5

treble7

reverb4

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

chorusBoss Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble

Notes

Studio recording, 2001-2002 (By the Way album sessions). John Frusciante used his main '62 Stratocaster with Marshall Major and Fender Showman amps for the album. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this riff section.

Tone Character(10)

swirling chorus modulationbright and glassy single-coil soundnasal upper-mid emphasisclean, shimmering texturelush stereo widtharticulate note separationgentle attackno audible distortionslightly compressed feelairy, open top end

Difficulty

The riff requires clean, accurate chord changes and precise timing to match the swirling chorus effect, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages.

Sources

John Frusciante's 10 best Red Hot Chili Peppers ...Why the guitars in By The Way (album) sound so "nasal"?Amp setting for a John Frusciante sound?

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