Back to CommunityCreate Free Account
Riff Tone
Little T&A
The Rolling Stones
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1975 Fender Telecaster Custom (Keith Richards' main guitar for 'Tattoo You' era studio recordings, likely in open G tuning with low E string removed)
AmpFender Twin Reverb (likely silverface, cranked for breakup; no pedal evidence for this track)
Amp Settings
gain5.5
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1980/1981 sessions for 'Tattoo You'. Keith Richards played the main riff on his Telecaster Custom, likely through a cranked Fender Twin Reverb with minimal or no pedals. No evidence of effects loop or additional pedals for the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and biting bridge pickup attackcrunchy, dynamic amp overdrivetight, punchy midrangeslightly compressed from amp breakupminimal reverb, mostly dryclear note separation in chordspercussive, rhythmic strummingtouch-sensitive responseclassic Stones 'open G' chimeraw, unprocessed studio sound
Difficulty
The riff requires familiarity with open G tuning, tight rhythmic strumming, and dynamic control to get the Stones' signature crunchy attack, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages.
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1975 Fender Telecaster Custom (Keith Richards' main guitar for 'Tattoo You' era studio recordings, likely in open G tuning with low E string removed)
AmpFender Twin Reverb (likely silverface, cranked for breakup; no pedal evidence for this track)
Amp Settings
gain5.5
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1980/1981 sessions for 'Tattoo You'. Keith Richards played the main riff on his Telecaster Custom, likely through a cranked Fender Twin Reverb with minimal or no pedals. No evidence of effects loop or additional pedals for the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and biting bridge pickup attackcrunchy, dynamic amp overdrivetight, punchy midrangeslightly compressed from amp breakupminimal reverb, mostly dryclear note separation in chordspercussive, rhythmic strummingtouch-sensitive responseclassic Stones 'open G' chimeraw, unprocessed studio sound
Difficulty
The riff requires familiarity with open G tuning, tight rhythmic strumming, and dynamic control to get the Stones' signature crunchy attack, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages.