Cliffs of Dover guitar tone
Eric Johnson · Eric Johnson
Ah Via Musicom (1990, recorded 1988-1989)
smooth violin lead
The rig Eric Johnson used
Researched from interviews, production write-ups and gear histories — not guessed.
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster / Gibson ES-335
Amplifier
Marshall 1959 Super Lead 100W
Cabinet
Marshall 1960B 4x12 Straight Cabinet
Microphone
Shure SM57
Signal chain
The order the original sound was built in. The exact settings get dialled for your own amp or modeller when you generate the tone.
Get this tone on your rig
Pick your amp or modeller and we’ll build Cliffs of Dover for it — with a preset file you can load, not a list of knob positions.
Why we think this is right
Cliffs of Dover uses a sustained Marshall lead sound across the intro, themes, solo and outro. Eric Johnson describes an Echoplex into a Tube Driver, then a 100-watt Marshall and 4x12 cabinet, with both Stratocaster and ES-335 on the recording. For a clear modeler recreation, use one tape echo after the cabinet and before subtle plate ambience. Suggested starting settings are 380 ms, 15% wet and 20% feedback, with tempo sync off.
Sources
- https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/how-eric-johnson-wrote-cliffs-of-dover
- https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/the-secrets-behind-eric-johnsons-guitar-tone-on-cliffs-of-dover