lead guitar from “lullaby” by the cure | ToneDB

lullaby

the cure

lead guitar

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A chorus-drenched, slightly haunting guitar tone with a dark, swirling quality. The sound is clean but with a subtle edge, creating a dreamy, ethereal texture.

The Story

Robert Smith used a Fender Jazzmaster through a Roland JC-160 amplifier with a Boss CE-1 chorus pedal to create the signature swirling guitar sound on "Lullaby." The combination of the Jazzmaster's single-coil pickups, the JC-160's clean solid-state tone, and the lush chorus effect from the CE-1 created the dreamy, slightly unsettling texture that defines the track.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Jazzmaster

Amp: Roland JC-160

Processing: Boss CE-1

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Fender Jazzmaster to capture the single-coil sound and tremolo.
  • A Roland JC-120 or JC-160 is ideal, but any clean solid-state amp will work.
  • The Boss CE-1 is crucial for achieving the signature chorus sound. Experiment with the rate and depth settings.
  • Dial in a clean amp tone and then add the chorus effect, adjusting the settings until you achieve the desired swirling texture.
  • Consider using a slight reverb to add to the dream-like quality of the tone.

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Alternative to: Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble

Recreates the vintage CE-1's lush analog chorus with both standard and premium modes for that classic swirling texture

Roland JC-40$500-$600

Alternative to: Roland JC-160

Delivers the same clean solid-state JC tone and built-in stereo chorus that defined the original JC series sound

Alternative to: Fender Jazzmaster

Provides authentic Jazzmaster single-coil pickup sound and tremolo system at a budget-friendly price point

Alternative to: Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble

Premium analog chorus that captures the bucket-brigade device characteristics of vintage chorus units like the CE-1

Alternative to: Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble

Digital recreation of classic analog chorus circuits that can achieve the swirling vintage chorus sound in the box

Frequently Asked Questions

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