Song Rig
Back in the New York Groove
Ace Frehley · Ace Frehley · 1978
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Ace's biggest commercial hit as a solo artist — a disco-influenced rock track where the guitar is bright, clean, and rhythmically precise. The tone is a significant departure from the heavy Les Paul/Marshall sound of Kiss, using a cleaner, more Strat-like sound for the driving chord pattern.
Signal Chain
- 1Fender Stratocaster (or Les Paul in middle position)
- 2Small, clean Fender amp
- 3Light studio reverb
Amp Settings
The cleanest Ace Frehley guitar tone — this song shows the diversity he was capable of beyond the heavy Kiss context. The bright, rhythmically precise guitar drives the track's dance-rock energy.
Technique
How to Play It
Tight, eighth-note disco chord strumming — the guitar drives the rhythm with consistent eighth-note strokes, providing the propulsive energy beneath the melodic verse. The right hand maintains absolute consistency rather than varying the rhythm.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Stratocaster or any bright single-coil guitar → clean Fender amp → no heavy effects → practice consistent eighth-note strumming without rushing. The groove comes from absolute rhythmic consistency, not from guitar tone.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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