Song Rig

In Trance

Uli Jon Roth · In Trance · 1975

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Uli's most hypnotic Scorpions performance — a slow, meditative track where the Strat sustains through the Marshall for an almost Eastern, drone-like quality. The tone is darker than Sails of Charon, with less treble emphasis and more amp warmth for the slow, sustained lead lines.

Signal Chain

1Fender Stratocaster (neck pickup)
2Marshall Super Lead (moderate gain)

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume6

Bass7

Mid7

Treble7

Presence6

Neck pickup, warmer setting — the meditative, droning quality of In Trance is served by a warmer, less aggressive Strat tone. The slower melodic movement allows more sustain on individual notes.

Technique

How to Play It

Sustained single-note melodic development — Roth plays unhurried melodic phrases with extended sustain on each note, applying gradual vibrato changes as the note decays. The note blooms, sustains, then gradually fades before the next phrase.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Stratocaster neck pickup → Marshall at medium gain → practice slow vibrato: apply no vibrato immediately on note attack, then slowly increase the vibrato depth over 2–3 seconds as the note sustains.

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