TONEDB

rhythm guitar from “sunshine of your love” by cream | ToneDB

sunshine of your love

cream

rhythm guitar

90% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A thick, smooth, and vocal-like overdriven guitar tone, famously known as Eric Clapton's 'woman tone', characterized by rolled-off highs and strong sustain from a cranked Marshall.

Signal Chain

Instrument: 1964 Gibson SG Standard (likely neck pickup)

Amp: Marshall JTM45/100 (100W head) with Marshall 4x12 cabinets loaded with Celestion G12M 'Greenback' speakers

Microphone: Neumann U67 (or similar period-correct condenser/dynamic like Shure SM57/Sennheiser MD421)

Other: Eric Clapton's 'Woman Tone' technique: Neck pickup selected, guitar volume on 10, guitar tone knob rolled down to 0 or 1. Amplifier volume set high for natural tube saturation and sustain. Microphone likely close-miked to one of the speakers.

Recording Notes

  • Recorded in May 1967 at Atlantic Studios in New York City.
  • Engineered by Tom Dowd and produced by Felix Pappalardi.
  • The guitar track was likely recorded with the amplifier in an isolation booth or well-managed studio space to capture the cranked amp tone.
  • The 'woman tone' was a signature element of Clapton's sound during the Cream era, particularly on the 'Disraeli Gears' album.
  • The song features a prominent, repeating guitar riff that defines its structure.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a guitar equipped with humbucking pickups (e.g., Gibson SG, Les Paul).
  • Select the neck pickup for a warmer, rounder sound.
  • Turn the guitar's master volume knob to its maximum setting (10).
  • Roll the tone knob for the selected pickup almost completely off (down to 0, 1, or 2). Experiment to find the 'sweet spot'.
  • Use a Marshall 'Plexi'-style amplifier (like a JTM45, JMP Super Lead) or a high-quality model/plugin emulating one.
  • Crank the amplifier's volume (non-master volume channel if available) to achieve natural power tube saturation and compression. For master volume amps, increase preamp gain and master volume to simulate this.
  • Adjust amplifier EQ to taste; often, a slight boost in the midrange can enhance the vocal quality of the tone.
  • Minimal to no pedals are needed for the core rhythm tone; the effect comes from the guitar settings and amp overdrive.

Sources