Song Rig
The Loner
Gary Moore · Wild Frontier · 1987
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Gary's Celtic-influenced hard rock at its most anthemic — a driving Les Paul riff with a melodic lead tone that incorporates elements of Irish folk melody. The production is heavier and more commercial than the blues albums, with the Soldano providing a thick, compressed overdrive.
Signal Chain
- 1Gibson Les Paul Standard (Peter Green's 1959 Les Paul, bridge pickup)
- 2Soldano SLO-100 (lead channel)
- 3Roland SDE-3000 Delay (tight slapback)
Amp Settings
The Soldano's lead channel provides a tighter, more American-voiced high gain than a Marshall — more focused in the midrange, less aggressive in the treble. This suits the melodic character of Wild Frontier's lead work.
Technique
How to Play It
Gary bends into Celtic-pentatonic phrases that draw on the Irish folk tradition — the lead melody of The Loner uses modal scales and specific note choices that give it a distinctly non-American blues sound despite the rock setting.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Les Paul bridge pickup → Soldano SLO-100, Bogner Ecstasy, or any tight high-gain amp → Boss DD-3 slapback delay (50–80ms). A Mesa Mark series amp is the closest budget alternative to the Soldano character.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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