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Riff Tone

This Charming Man

The Smiths

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

Guitar1954 Fender Telecaster (John Porter’s, used by Johnny Marr on the main riff)
AmpFender Twin Reverb (Blackface, studio recording, 1983)

Amp Settings

gain3
bass5

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Effects & Signal Chain

Notes

Studio recording, 1983. Main riff tracked with John Porter’s 1954 Fender Telecaster into a Fender Twin Reverb. Some sources mention Roland JC-120 and Rickenbacker 330 for overdubs, but the main riff is widely cited as the Telecaster into the Twin Reverb. No evidence of a dedicated distortion pedal for the riff; tone is edge-of-breakup/clean with compression and chorus.

Tone Character(9)
bright and janglyarticulate and percussive attackchorus shimmertight, compressed rhythmclean with slight breakupspring reverb ambiencesnappy single-coil claritydynamic and punchycrisp high-end detail

Difficulty

The riff requires fast, accurate picking, intricate chord shapes, and tight muting, making it challenging for most players despite the lack of distortion.

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