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Riff Tone
Spanish Fly
Van Halen
Guitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarNylon-string classical guitar (exact model not specified, likely Ovation nylon-string classical)
AmpNone (direct mic'd acoustic guitar, no amp used on studio recording)
Amp Settings
gain2
bass5
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Notes
Studio recording, 1978-1979. Eddie Van Halen used a nylon-string classical guitar for 'Spanish Fly' on Van Halen II. No amp or pedals were used; the guitar was recorded acoustically with a microphone.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatepercussive attackwarm and resonantnatural acoustic sustaindynamic and touch-sensitiveclear note separationcrisp high endwoody midrangeno amp colorationno effects coloration
Difficulty
The riff requires expert-level classical and rock technique, including rapid picking, tapping, and dynamic control on a nylon-string guitar, making it one of the most technically demanding acoustic pieces in rock.
This tone has been researched 2 times by the community
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1970s
Original Gear
GuitarNylon-string classical guitar (exact model not specified, likely Ovation nylon-string classical)
AmpNone (direct mic'd acoustic guitar, no amp used on studio recording)
Amp Settings
gain2
bass5
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
This tone has been researched 2 times by the community
Notes
Studio recording, 1978-1979. Eddie Van Halen used a nylon-string classical guitar for 'Spanish Fly' on Van Halen II. No amp or pedals were used; the guitar was recorded acoustically with a microphone.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatepercussive attackwarm and resonantnatural acoustic sustaindynamic and touch-sensitiveclear note separationcrisp high endwoody midrangeno amp colorationno effects coloration
Difficulty
The riff requires expert-level classical and rock technique, including rapid picking, tapping, and dynamic control on a nylon-string guitar, making it one of the most technically demanding acoustic pieces in rock.