Riff Tone

Tom Sawyer

Rush

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (Hentor Sportscaster, custom modded by Alex Lifeson)

AmpHiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet

PickupsSeymour Duncan JB humbucker (bridge position, custom installed in Strat)

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb0.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

flangerElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix

Notes

Studio recording, 1980/1981 at Le Studio for 'Moving Pictures'. Lifeson used his custom 'Hentor Sportscaster' Strat with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge, into a Hiwatt DR103 head and Marshall cab. Flanger effect is from an Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress pedal. No evidence of chorus or delay on the riff section. No evidence of amp reverb or other amp-based effects. All info is for the original studio recording, not live.

Tone Character(10)

tight, percussive attackcrunchy and articulatebright and cuttingfull-bodied midrangemodulation shimmer from flangerdynamic and responsiveslightly compressedclassic British amp crunchnot overly saturateddistinct flanger sweep

Difficulty

The main riff requires advanced rhythmic precision, tight palm muting, and dynamic control to lock in with the complex drum and synth patterns, making it challenging for most players.

Sources

[DISCUSSION] What gear did Alex Lifeson (Rush) use to record Tom ...Alex Lifeson on the difficult creation of Rush's Grace Under Pressure

This tone has been researched 5 times by the community

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