Still Loving You

The recording

Recorded in 1984 for the album Love at First Sting, “Still Loving You” features dual lead guitars tracked in Dierks Studios, Cologne. Producer Dieter Dierks captured both rhythm and lead parts with a Gibson Flying V and a Gibson Explorer, each driven into a Marshall JCM800 head. The guitars were run through a Boss DS‑1 Distortion and a half‑cocked Dunlop Cry Baby wah for the soaring solo, giving the track its polished yet aggressive 80s power‑ballad sound.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E), recorded slightly sharp (~¼ step)

Reported gear

1980s Gibson Flying V

Guitar

Rudolf Schenker used a 1980s Gibson Flying V with high‑output humbuckers for the thick rhythm foundation heard throughout the verses of “Still Loving You”.

1980s Gibson Explorer

Guitar

Matthias Jabs played a 1980s Gibson Explorer for the soaring lead lines, its mid‑forward humbuckers delivering the sustain and bite heard in the solo.

1978 Boss DS-1 Distortion

Distortion Pedal

Both guitars were routed through a Boss DS‑1 Distortion, which helped push the signal into the crunchy overdrive heard on the track’s rhythm sections.

1970s Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Wah Pedal

A half‑cocked Cry Baby wah is said to have been used on the lead parts, adding a subtle vowel‑like character to Jabs’ soaring bends.

Early 1980s Marshall JCM800

Amp

The signal from both guitars was fed into a Marshall JCM800 head, whose British high‑gain voicing provides the iconic 80s metal crunch that defines the track’s tone.

Alternatives

Epiphone Flying V

Budget alternative · for the 1980s Gibson Flying V

$400 to 600

Dunlop Cry Baby Mini

Budget alternative · for the 1970s Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

$20 to 30

Epiphone Explorer

Budget alternative · for the 1980s Gibson Explorer

$350 to 500

Marshall DSL40C

Modern equivalent · for the Early 1980s Marshall JCM800

$800 to 1,200

Mooer DS-1 Mini

Budget alternative · for the 1978 Boss DS-1 Distortion

$20 to 30

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Play the clean arpeggios with a light touch, using the bridge pickup for added sparkle.
2. 2.Use slight palm‑mute on the rhythm chords to tighten the groove.
3. 3.Let the lead notes ring and apply gentle vibrato on the bends.
4. 4.Roll the guitar volume knob up during the solo to increase natural overdrive.
5. 5.Add a subtle half‑cocked wah effect on high‑picking notes for extra expression.