Riff Tone

When the Smoke Is Going Down

Scorpions

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Flying V (likely 1970s, as used by Rudolf Schenker on Blackout album)

AmpMarshall JCM800 (studio recording, early 1980s)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock for 1970s Flying V)

Amp Settings

gain6

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1981-1982 for the Blackout album. No evidence of pedals or effects other than amp reverb for the riff section. Guitar World interview confirms Schenker used his black-and-white Flying V for composing and recording this era; Marshall JCM800 is widely cited as the main amp for Blackout. No evidence of modulation or time-based pedals in the riff section.

Tone Character(10)

classic Marshall crunchclear, ringing chordsslightly overdriven rhythmwarm, rounded midrangesmooth sustainnot heavily saturatedarticulate note separationtouch-sensitive responseopen, airy soundsubtle amp reverb

Difficulty

The riff is not technically difficult but requires good control of dynamics and clean picking to achieve the airy, ringing tone. Subtlety and touch are more important than speed or complex technique.

Sources

Tips to sound like SCORPIONS guitarist matthias jabs songs like ...The Scorpions' Matthias Jabs and Rudolf Schenker Discuss New 'MTV Unplugged' Album | Guitar World How to play rock guitar like the legendary Michael Schenker | Guitar World

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