Riff Tone
We Didn't Start the Fire
Billy Joel
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1980s model, maple neck, used by session guitarist David Brown)
AmpFender Twin Reverb (silverface, 1980s studio standard, likely used for clean rhythm parts)
PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock Stratocaster configuration)
Amp Settings
gain4
bass5.5
mid6
treble7
reverb3
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1988-1989. Guitar part played by session guitarist David Brown, not Billy Joel. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. No evidence of pedalboard use for this part.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulateslightly edgytight and percussiveclean with a hint of breakupminimal sustainmidrange presencearticulate single-coil attackstudio-polished clarityno audible modulationno heavy distortion
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires tight, consistent picking and clean articulation to match the studio-polished sound.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1980s model, maple neck, used by session guitarist David Brown)
AmpFender Twin Reverb (silverface, 1980s studio standard, likely used for clean rhythm parts)
PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock Stratocaster configuration)
Amp Settings
gain4
bass5.5
mid6
treble7
reverb3
presence5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Sources
Notes
Studio recording, 1988-1989. Guitar part played by session guitarist David Brown, not Billy Joel. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. No evidence of pedalboard use for this part.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulateslightly edgytight and percussiveclean with a hint of breakupminimal sustainmidrange presencearticulate single-coil attackstudio-polished clarityno audible modulationno heavy distortion
Difficulty
The riff is rhythmically straightforward but requires tight, consistent picking and clean articulation to match the studio-polished sound.
More Billy Joel tones
- You May Be Right · riff
- You May Be Right · solo