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Riff Tone
Smooth Operator (Single Version)
Sade
Guitarother1980s
Original Gear
GuitarIbanez Musician MC924 (likely, based on Paul S. Denman's known gear and period-correct studio session photos, but not definitively confirmed for this track's riff section)
AmpFender Vibroverb (1964, likely studio amp for clean tones in this era/genre; no direct source for this session, but period-correct and referenced in similar session contexts)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
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Notes
Studio recording, 1983-1984 (recorded for Sade's debut album 'Diamond Life'). No direct confirmation of exact guitar/amp for the riff, but MC924 and Fender Vibroverb are most plausible based on era, genre, and available evidence.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothglassy cleanrounded highsclear note separationsubtle amp reverbslightly compressed attackarticulate and dynamicstudio-polished clarityno audible modulationno overdrive or crunch
Difficulty
The riff requires clean, syncopated chord work and dynamic control, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages, making it accessible to intermediate players with good timing.
This tone has been researched 3 times by the community
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Create Free AccountGuitarother1980s
Original Gear
GuitarIbanez Musician MC924 (likely, based on Paul S. Denman's known gear and period-correct studio session photos, but not definitively confirmed for this track's riff section)
AmpFender Vibroverb (1964, likely studio amp for clean tones in this era/genre; no direct source for this session, but period-correct and referenced in similar session contexts)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
This tone has been researched 3 times by the community
Notes
Studio recording, 1983-1984 (recorded for Sade's debut album 'Diamond Life'). No direct confirmation of exact guitar/amp for the riff, but MC924 and Fender Vibroverb are most plausible based on era, genre, and available evidence.
Tone Character(10)
warm and smoothglassy cleanrounded highsclear note separationsubtle amp reverbslightly compressed attackarticulate and dynamicstudio-polished clarityno audible modulationno overdrive or crunch
Difficulty
The riff requires clean, syncopated chord work and dynamic control, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages, making it accessible to intermediate players with good timing.