Riff Tone

Unchain the Night

Dokken

Guitarmetal1980s

Original Gear

GuitarESP Kamikaze (early prototype, likely Strat-style with maple neck, single humbucker)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 100W head (studio, 1985 Under Lock and Key sessions)

PickupsSeymour Duncan Screamin' Demon humbucker (bridge position, but clean part may use neck single coil if present; not confirmed for clean section)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass5.5

mid5

treble7

reverb3

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

chorusUnknown Chorus pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 1985. Clean intro/riff likely used the ESP Kamikaze or similar Strat-style ESP with a Marshall JCM800. Some forum sources suggest an acoustic was used for the clean intro, but most evidence and the recording point to a clean electric. No direct evidence of pedals for clean, but chorus/reverb are clearly audible.

Tone Character(10)

warm and glisteninglush chorus shimmerbell-like articulationclear note separationstudio reverb depthnot overdrivenslightly compressed80s clean chorus soundambient and spaciousmajestic clean intro

Difficulty

The clean riff requires accurate picking and chord clarity, but is not technically advanced; the main challenge is maintaining even dynamics and articulation with effects.

Sources

The 'Why did I buy that?' thread. | Page 3 | Guitar Forum - The Gear Page The Tristereo Chorus Recipe | Page 56 Dokken is often regarded as one of the most underrated bands of ...

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