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Riff Tone
The Thin Line
Queensrÿche
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard '60s
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
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Notes
Studio recording, 1990 (Empire album). Gear inferred from most-cited sources for Queensrÿche's heavy rhythm tones of this era; no direct evidence for 'The Thin Line' riff, but JCM800 and Les Paul are repeatedly cited as the core rig for Empire's heavy sections.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivehigh-gain British cruncharticulate palm-muted chugsrich harmonic overtonesclear note separation under gainfull-bodied low endslightly scooped mids but not hollowchorused stereo widthaggressive pick attackstudio-polished saturation
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, articulate palm muting and precise picking to maintain clarity under high gain, with syncopated rhythms and clean chord changes adding to the challenge.
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard '60s
AmpMarshall JCM800 2203
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1990 (Empire album). Gear inferred from most-cited sources for Queensrÿche's heavy rhythm tones of this era; no direct evidence for 'The Thin Line' riff, but JCM800 and Les Paul are repeatedly cited as the core rig for Empire's heavy sections.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivehigh-gain British cruncharticulate palm-muted chugsrich harmonic overtonesclear note separation under gainfull-bodied low endslightly scooped mids but not hollowchorused stereo widthaggressive pick attackstudio-polished saturation
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, articulate palm muting and precise picking to maintain clarity under high gain, with syncopated rhythms and clean chord changes adding to the challenge.