How to Dial In "Riot Squad" by Cock Sparrer - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Riot Squad"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Shock Troops (1983). Shock Troops is the second album, and the first widely distributed, by punk rock band Cock Sparrer. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Cock Sparrer's other songs from Shock Troops, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Riot Squad" Tone
What guitar did Cock Sparrer use on "Riot Squad"?
The guitar on "Riot Squad" (released 1983) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Riot Squad" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Volume 8. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Riot Squad" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Riot Squad" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Riot Squad" by Cock Sparrer are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.