Song Rig
Lazy
Ritchie Blackmore · Machine Head · 1972
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Machine Head's most laid-back track gives Ritchie room to play slow blues-influenced leads through the Stratocaster/Marshall combination — a rare extended improvisational showcase in the Deep Purple catalog. The tone is warm and slightly fuzzy, with the Strat's neck pickup providing a rounded quality absent from the harder riffing tracks.
Signal Chain
- 1Fender Stratocaster (1968 model, neck pickup, volume ~8)
- 2Marshall Super Lead 100W (100W, pushed hard)
- 3Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster
Amp Settings
The Super Lead at high volume without the treble booster for the slower sections — the neck pickup's natural warmth provides the round, blues-influenced tone for the extended solo passages.
Technique
How to Play It
Extended improvisation in D Dorian — Lazy uses the Dorian mode that Ritchie favoured for blues-influenced playing, giving the solo a Middle Eastern edge compared to pure pentatonic blues.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Stratocaster neck pickup → Marshall Origin or Super Lead at high volume → Dallas Rangemaster or Hornby-Skewes clone treble booster (optional). The neck pickup is non-negotiable for the warm tone of the slower sections.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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