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Riff Tone
D.S.
Michael Jackson
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1980s/early 1990s, bridge humbucker mod, Steve Stevens session)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1994, typical for Steve Stevens and era)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
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Notes
Studio recording, 1994. Steve Stevens played the heavy riff sections on 'D.S.' for Michael Jackson. Gear inferred from session history and era; no direct photo/video evidence for this exact session, but consistent with Stevens' known studio setup for heavy pop/rock sessions of the early 1990s.
Tone Character(10)
tight and focusedaggressive mid-forward crunchpunchy and percussivesaturated high-gain rhythmcrisp attackexcellent string separationupper midrange emphasiscutting through dense mixheavy, modern rock distortionarticulate palm-muted chugs
Difficulty
The riff requires tight palm muting, precise timing, and control of high-gain tone to maintain clarity and punch, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely 1980s/early 1990s, bridge humbucker mod, Steve Stevens session)
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 (studio recording, 1994, typical for Steve Stevens and era)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1994. Steve Stevens played the heavy riff sections on 'D.S.' for Michael Jackson. Gear inferred from session history and era; no direct photo/video evidence for this exact session, but consistent with Stevens' known studio setup for heavy pop/rock sessions of the early 1990s.
Tone Character(10)
tight and focusedaggressive mid-forward crunchpunchy and percussivesaturated high-gain rhythmcrisp attackexcellent string separationupper midrange emphasiscutting through dense mixheavy, modern rock distortionarticulate palm-muted chugs
Difficulty
The riff requires tight palm muting, precise timing, and control of high-gain tone to maintain clarity and punch, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.