Riff Tone
Too Much Time On My Hands
Styx
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Deluxe (likely 1970s, mini-humbuckers, as used by Tommy Shaw in this era)
AmpMarshall amplifier (likely JMP or JCM800, as used by Tommy Shaw in late 1970s/early 1980s Styx studio recordings)
PickupsMini-humbuckers (Gibson stock, 1970s Les Paul Deluxe)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass6
mid7
treble7
reverb2.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1980-1981, Paradise Theatre album. No direct evidence of pedals or alternate guitars for the riff section. No evidence of DI or amp modelers; classic Marshall stack sound typical for Tommy Shaw in this era.
Tone Character(10)
classic British crunchtight and punchy rhythmslightly compressed attackclear note separationarticulate midrangemoderate sustainnot overly saturateddynamic response to pickingpresent but not harsh treblefull-bodied chord voicings
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, punchy chord stabs and precise timing with the rhythm section, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast runs.
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Deluxe (likely 1970s, mini-humbuckers, as used by Tommy Shaw in this era)
AmpMarshall amplifier (likely JMP or JCM800, as used by Tommy Shaw in late 1970s/early 1980s Styx studio recordings)
PickupsMini-humbuckers (Gibson stock, 1970s Les Paul Deluxe)
Amp Settings
gain6
bass6
mid7
treble7
reverb2.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1980-1981, Paradise Theatre album. No direct evidence of pedals or alternate guitars for the riff section. No evidence of DI or amp modelers; classic Marshall stack sound typical for Tommy Shaw in this era.
Tone Character(10)
classic British crunchtight and punchy rhythmslightly compressed attackclear note separationarticulate midrangemoderate sustainnot overly saturateddynamic response to pickingpresent but not harsh treblefull-bodied chord voicings
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, punchy chord stabs and precise timing with the rhythm section, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast runs.
Too Much Time On My Hands settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
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