Back to CommunityCreate Free Account
Riff Tone
There's Only One Way to Rock
Sammy Hagar
Guitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Explorer (early 1980s, red finish)
AmpMarshall JMP 2203 100-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1981-1982. Gear confirmed by period photos, interviews, and live footage from the VOA/Standing Hampton era. No evidence of pedal use for main riff; amp distortion is primary. No evidence of effects loop or rack effects for riff section.
Tone Character(10)
British crunchaggressive and punchytight palm mutingarticulate pick attackfocused low endpresent midsslightly bright top endminimal ambienceclassic hard rock rhythmhigh-output humbucker bite
Difficulty
The riff requires solid palm muting and tight rhythm, but uses straightforward power chords and single-note lines typical of early 80s hard rock.
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarrock1980s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Explorer (early 1980s, red finish)
AmpMarshall JMP 2203 100-watt head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Amp Settings
gain7
bass6
Create an account to see all tone details
Create Free AccountEffects & Signal Chain
Notes
Studio recording, 1981-1982. Gear confirmed by period photos, interviews, and live footage from the VOA/Standing Hampton era. No evidence of pedal use for main riff; amp distortion is primary. No evidence of effects loop or rack effects for riff section.
Tone Character(10)
British crunchaggressive and punchytight palm mutingarticulate pick attackfocused low endpresent midsslightly bright top endminimal ambienceclassic hard rock rhythmhigh-output humbucker bite
Difficulty
The riff requires solid palm muting and tight rhythm, but uses straightforward power chords and single-note lines typical of early 80s hard rock.