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lead guitar from “peace of mind” by boston | ToneDB

peace of mind

boston

lead guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

The lead guitar tone is characterized by its sustain, soaring quality, and harmonic richness, achieved through a combination of humbucker pickups, powerful amplification, and layered overdubs. It's a classic rock sound with a smooth, almost vocal-like quality.

Gear

Gibson Les Paulinstrument
ReverbSweetwater
Scholz Rockmanamp
Reverb$180Sweetwater

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The Story

Tom Scholz recorded the lead guitar parts for 'Peace of Mind' using a Gibson Les Paul through his own invention, the Scholz Rockman, at his home studio. The signature sound comes from the Rockman's built-in compression, distortion, and EQ circuitry, combined with Scholz's technique of layering multiple guitar overdubs with slight variations in tone and performance. This meticulous approach to overdubbing created the thick, harmonically rich lead guitar sound that became a hallmark of Boston's recordings.

Production Credits

Producer: Tom Scholz

Engineer: Tom Scholz

Recorded at: Tom Scholz Hideaway Studio

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Les Paul

Amp: Scholz Rockman

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Les Paul-style guitar equipped with humbucker pickups for a thick and sustaining base tone.
  • The Scholz Rockman is crucial for emulating the core sound. If unavailable, use an amp simulator or distortion pedal that can produce a similar compressed and harmonically rich tone.
  • Experiment with EQ to shape the tone, focusing on boosting the upper midrange for clarity and presence.
  • Layer multiple guitar tracks, each with slightly different EQ and gain settings, to create a dense and harmonically complex soundscape.
  • Apply light compression to individual tracks and the overall mix to enhance sustain and even out dynamics.

Original Gear

  • Gibson Les Paul(guitar)
  • Scholz Rockman(amp)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Dunlop Tom Scholz Rockman$150-$200

Alternative to: Scholz Rockman

Official reissue of the original Rockman with the same compression and distortion circuits that created the Boston tone

ReverbSweetwater
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s$500-$600

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Budget-friendly option with humbucker pickups that provides the thick sustain needed for this tone

ReverbSweetwater
IK Multimedia AmpliTube Tom Scholz Collection$80-$100

Alternative to: Scholz Rockman

Digital recreation of the Rockman's circuitry with the ability to easily layer multiple guitar tracks like Scholz did

ReverbSweetwater
Gibson Les Paul Studio$1300-$1500

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Authentic Gibson with humbuckers that matches the original guitar's tone and sustain characteristics

ReverbSweetwater
Boss MT-2 Metal Zone$80-$120

Alternative to: Scholz Rockman

While not exact, its midrange focus and compression can approximate the Rockman's compressed distortion when dialed in carefully

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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