Riff Tone

YYZ

Rush

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster 'Hentor Sportscaster' (modified, white, used on Moving Pictures)

AmpMarshall 100-watt JCM 800 head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio, Moving Pictures era)

PickupsDiMarzio FS-1 single coil (bridge), stock Fender single coils (neck/middle)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb1

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

boostMXR MXR Micro Amp

distortionMXR MXR Distortion+

Notes

Studio recording, 1980/1981, Moving Pictures album. Lifeson used the Hentor Sportscaster Strat with a DiMarzio FS-1 in the bridge, running into Marshall JCM 800 heads and 4x12 cabs. Some sources mention Dean Markley amps in the chain, but Marshalls are primary for the riff. Effects included MXR Micro Amp and Distortion+ pedals for gain. No chorus or delay is audible in the riff section, only amp/pedal distortion. Pickup selector likely bridge position for main riff.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivearticulate attackBritish crunchclear note separationslightly compresseddynamic responsemid-forwardslight amp reverbbridge pickup biteclassic Marshall saturation

Difficulty

The YYZ riff is challenging due to its fast tempo, intricate rhythmic patterns, and the need for tight, articulate picking with palm muting and string skipping. It requires advanced right-hand technique and precise timing.

Sources

Does anyone know what gear Alex Lifeson used for YYZ? it's ...Alex Lifeson breaks down 11 landmark Rush songs | Guitar World [DISCUSSION] What gear did Alex Lifeson (Rush) use to record Tom ...

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