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.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Tom Scholz was known for his meticulous approach to guitar tones, often involving extensive experimentation with custom-built circuits and signal paths.
• The Scholz Rockman was used to create a consistent and easily reproducible tone for both live performances and studio recordings.
• Multiple guitar overdubs, layered with slight variations in tone and performance, contribute to the depth and complexity of the final sound.
• The song was recorded at Tom Scholz's home studio.

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.

Recommended Gear

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