Riff Tone

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

The Smiths

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarMartin D-28 acoustic

AmpFender 'Brownface' Pro 6G5-A (1961-1963)

PickupsMartin stock acoustic piezo (if amplified), otherwise mic'd acoustic

Amp Settings

gain2.5

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble7.5

reverb5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1985-1986. Johnny Marr double-tracked the main riff with a Martin D-28 acoustic and two tracks of Rickenbacker electric (model unspecified, likely 330 or 360). The acoustic is prominent in the riff section. No evidence of electric guitar as the primary riff layer. No evidence of pedal use in the studio for the riff section.

Tone Character(10)

bright and janglyarticulate and percussivewarm acoustic resonanceshimmering high endclear note separationnatural, uncompressed dynamicsrich, layered textureminimal coloration from effectsstudio double-tracking depthsubtle room ambience

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate skill due to its syncopated strumming, precise chord changes, and the need for clarity and consistency, especially when double-tracked as in the recording.

Sources

The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album | Equipboard “All of these things that I do on record using a few guitars, I've all got it in the one guitar that I can carry around with me”: Martin unveils 7-string Johnny Marr signature acoustic with an octave G string for added jangle | MusicRadar 5 songs guitarists need to hear by... Johnny Marr | MusicRadar

This tone has been researched 3 times by the community

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