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Riff Tone

Wanted Dead or Alive

Bon Jovi

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarOvation 1657 Anniversary Acoustic-Electric (12-string) and Ovation 6-string acoustic-electric
AmpDirect to mixing console (studio), possibly with DI box; no electric amp used for riff section

Amp Settings

gain3.5
bass6

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Effects & Signal Chain

Notes

Studio recording, 1986; the main riff is played on a 12-string Ovation acoustic-electric, double-tracked with a 6-string Ovation acoustic-electric. No electric guitar or amp is used for the riff section. Effects are added in post or via rack units, not pedals. Confirmed by multiple interviews and rig rundowns. Live versions sometimes use electric, but the studio riff is acoustic-electric only.

Tone Character(10)
bright and shimmerycrisp, percussive attackrich, full-bodiedclear note separationslight natural compressionspacious with studio reverblayered acoustic textureslight chorus-like shimmer (from double-tracking)articulate and cleanclassic 80s rock acoustic intro

Difficulty

The riff requires accurate fingerpicking and strumming on a 12-string acoustic, with clean chord transitions and tight timing to achieve the layered, shimmery sound. The technique is more demanding than basic strumming but not as complex as advanced lead work.

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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