Song Rig
Stargazer
Ritchie Blackmore · Rising · 1976
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Ritchie's masterwork with Rainbow — an 8-minute epic combining orchestral arrangement with his heaviest guitar tone of the 1970s. The Stratocaster into a Marshall produces a darker, more symphonic sound than the brighter Machine Head recordings, appropriate for the song's medieval fantasy narrative.
Signal Chain
- 1Fender Stratocaster (customised, bridge pickup)
- 2Marshall Super Lead 200W (modified for more gain)
- 3Aiwa tape echo (long delay)
Amp Settings
Heavier Marshall tone than the Deep Purple recordings — the Rainbow period saw Ritchie using higher gain settings. The 200W Super Lead provides more headroom and a slightly different power amp character than the 100W version.
Technique
How to Play It
Extended soloing over orchestral backing — Stargazer requires Ritchie to maintain interest over a slow harmonic movement with long chord sustain, using primarily melodic phrasing and modal scales rather than speed.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
Stratocaster → Marshall Plexi or Super Lead clone → tape echo or Boss RE-20 Space Echo with long delay time (400–600ms) → orchestral backing track (the orchestra is non-negotiable for this arrangement).
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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