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Riff Tone
Swingin'
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely early 1960s, as used by Tom Petty in Heartbreakers studio recordings of this era)
AmpFender Princeton Reverb (blackface, early 1960s vintage, studio recording)
Amp Settings
gain4
bass6
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Notes
Studio recording, 1999. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps used for the riff section of 'Swingin''; Mike Campbell and Tom Petty's studio rig for this era is well-documented as Stratocaster into a blackface Princeton Reverb. No pedal effects confirmed for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulateslightly gritty edge-of-breakupopen and ringingdynamic and touch-sensitiveclean with subtle breakupchimey top endclear single-coil presencepunchy midstight low endminimal compression
Difficulty
The riff requires tight rhythm playing with dynamic control to maintain clarity and edge-of-breakup tone, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages.
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Create Free AccountGuitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely early 1960s, as used by Tom Petty in Heartbreakers studio recordings of this era)
AmpFender Princeton Reverb (blackface, early 1960s vintage, studio recording)
Amp Settings
gain4
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1999. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps used for the riff section of 'Swingin''; Mike Campbell and Tom Petty's studio rig for this era is well-documented as Stratocaster into a blackface Princeton Reverb. No pedal effects confirmed for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulateslightly gritty edge-of-breakupopen and ringingdynamic and touch-sensitiveclean with subtle breakupchimey top endclear single-coil presencepunchy midstight low endminimal compression
Difficulty
The riff requires tight rhythm playing with dynamic control to maintain clarity and edge-of-breakup tone, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages.