Solo Tone

Who's Crying Now (Live In Houston, 1981)

Journey

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe (black, Floyd Rose, active electronics, yellow Ferrari sticker)

AmpRandall RG100ES solid-state head

PickupsGibson P-90 single coils (stock for Pro Deluxe, but may have been swapped for humbuckers or active pickups; sources confirm active electronics but not exact pickup model for this show)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6.5

mid7

treble7

reverb3

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

wahDunlop Wah pedal (model unknown, likely Cry Baby)

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown, likely analog or early digital)

Notes

Live performance, November 1981, Houston (MTV broadcast). Guitar is Neal Schon's heavily modified 1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe with Floyd Rose and active electronics. Amp is Randall RG100ES, as confirmed by period photos and gear rundowns for the Escape tour. No evidence of additional amp models or backup amps used for this solo.

Tone Character(10)

singing sustainsmooth, vocal-like lead tonerich midrange presenceclear note separationexpressive bends and vibratowarm yet articulatetouch-sensitive responsemoderate compressionslightly saturated overdrivedynamic, melodic phrasing

Difficulty

The solo demands advanced phrasing, expressive vibrato, and precise control of both picking and wah pedal, making it challenging for most intermediate players.

Sources

Neal Schon's Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Amps | Equipboard Neal Schon's Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Amps | Equipboard What did Schon use on escape? What a sound | The Gear Page

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