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The recording
Moore recorded the lead part at Morgan Studios in 1978 with engineer Chris Tsangarides, using a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard ('Greeny') and a Marshall JTM45 head routed through a 4x12 cabinet. He employed smooth volume‑swell phrasing on the guitar’s volume knob, letting the amp’s natural tube overdrive provide the sustain, with only a touch of studio reverb added during mixing.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Signal chain
Original gear
1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard ('Greeny')
Guitar
Moore played the 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard formerly owned by Peter Green, using the guitar’s volume knob to swell into notes for the emotive lead tone.
Marshall JTM45 100W Head
Amp
The Les Paul was fed into a Marshall JTM45 100‑watt head, delivering a warm, tube‑driven overdrive that sits prominently in the mix.
Marshall 1960 4x12 Cabinet
Cabinet
The amp was routed through a Marshall 1960 4×12 cabinet, providing the thick, saturated speaker response heard on the recording.
Alternatives
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Roll the guitar's volume knob on the bridge pickup to create smooth volume‑swell phrasing.
- 2.Let the amp's natural tube overdrive provide sustain—keep gain moderate.
- 3.Pick with a dynamic attack to shape the note’s onset and decay.
- 4.Position yourself close to the speaker for subtle resonance and warmth.
- 5.Use a clean bridge pickup setting for a bright, singing lead tone.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Parisienne Walkways guitar tone?
The available research points to 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard ('Greeny') into Marshall JTM45 100W Head. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Parisienne Walkways amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Parisienne Walkways in?
The current research record lists Standard (E A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Parisienne Walkways tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
