Solo Tone
Year of the Cat (2020 Remaster)
Al Stewart
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335 (likely, based on era/session musician Tim Renwick's known gear and typical studio choices for this sound)
AmpFender Twin Reverb (likely, based on era, genre, and common studio amp for clean articulate tones in 1970s rock/pop sessions)
PickupsGibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid6
treble7
reverb4
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1976 (original album, remastered in 2020). No direct evidence for exact guitar/amp in sources, but ES-335 and Fender Twin Reverb are strongly supported by session musician history and the tone. No evidence of live rig or alternate gear for the solo section.
Tone Character(10)
clear and articulatewarm and rounded highssmooth, glassy top endrich midrange presencedynamic and expressivesinging sustainstudio claritytastefully chosen instrument tonesnot harsh or aggressiveno audible overdrive
Difficulty
The solo requires intermediate-level phrasing, expressive bends, and dynamic control to maintain clarity and sustain without overdrive. While not technically fast or complex, it demands musicality and touch.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-335 (likely, based on era/session musician Tim Renwick's known gear and typical studio choices for this sound)
AmpFender Twin Reverb (likely, based on era, genre, and common studio amp for clean articulate tones in 1970s rock/pop sessions)
PickupsGibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
mid6
treble7
reverb4
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1976 (original album, remastered in 2020). No direct evidence for exact guitar/amp in sources, but ES-335 and Fender Twin Reverb are strongly supported by session musician history and the tone. No evidence of live rig or alternate gear for the solo section.
Tone Character(10)
clear and articulatewarm and rounded highssmooth, glassy top endrich midrange presencedynamic and expressivesinging sustainstudio claritytastefully chosen instrument tonesnot harsh or aggressiveno audible overdrive
Difficulty
The solo requires intermediate-level phrasing, expressive bends, and dynamic control to maintain clarity and sustain without overdrive. While not technically fast or complex, it demands musicality and touch.