10 Classic Rock Riffs That Used the Worst Effects

A fearless set of musicians decided to break free from conventional boundaries, creating music that twisted the established norms and challenged what was considered possible. They weren’t scared to mess with the usual ways of doing things, using technology and creativity to carve out new spaces in the world of sound. This adventurous spirit led to the creation of tracks and albums that not only made history but also left an indelible mark on music as we know it. However, these sonic adventures weren’t met with universal acclaim. Reactions to these experiments varied wildly, creating a divide between those who were excited by these innovative sounds and those who preferred the classical rock aesthetic.

Blue Cheer – “Summertime Blues”

Effect in Question: Distortion

Blue Cheer’s rendition of this Eddie Cochran classic is often cited as one of the earliest examples of heavy metal, with its extremely distorted guitar sound that was groundbreaking yet polarizing for its time.

Spirit – “Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus” (Album)

Effect in Question: Flanger/Phaser

This album uses a myriad of studio effects across its tracks, including flanger and phaser, which give it a unique sound. While innovative, these effects garnered mixed reactions for their perceived overuse.

Iron Butterfly – “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”

Effect in Question: Reverb and Overdrive

The heavy use of reverb and overdrive on the iconic organ riff alongside the guitar parts created a hallucinogenic atmosphere that was loved by some but viewed as overindulgent by others.

Mountain – “Mississippi Queen”

Effect in Question: Leslie Speaker

The guitar work famously utilizes a Leslie speaker, giving it a swirling, vibrato-like effect. While this has become a celebrated sound, initial reactions were mixed regarding its fittingness in rock music.

Hawkwind – “Silver Machine”

Effect in Question: Phase Shifter

Known for their space rock sound, Hawkwind’s use of phase shifting in this track gave it a futuristic feel that was not universally embraced upon its release.

Robin Trower – “Bridge of Sighs”

Effect in Question: Univibe

Trower’s use of the Univibe effect lent a dreamy, psychedelic quality to this track, setting him apart from his contemporaries. While innovative, the effect was somewhat niche and not universally appreciated at the time.

Funkadelic – “Maggot Brain”

Effect in Question: Envelope Filter

Eddie Hazel’s epic guitar solo was processed with an envelope filter, creating a raw, emotional sound. While groundbreaking, the use of this effect was seen as highly experimental and unconventional for rock.

The Amboy Dukes – “Journey to the Center of the Mind”

Effect in Question: Fuzz/Wah

Ted Nugent utilized fuzzy distorted tones combined with a wah pedal to create a sound that captured the psychedelic rock era’s spirit but was seen as too edgy or muddy by some critics.

April Wine – “Weeping Widow”

Effect in Question: Talk Box

Before it was popularized by acts like Peter Frampton and Aerosmith, April Wine experimented with the talk box, which was a novel effect at the time but also confused listeners unfamiliar with the sound.

The Edgar Winter Group – “Frankenstein”

Effect in Question: Synthesizer

This instrumental track prominently features the synthesizer, an instrument that was relatively new to rock music at the time. While it helped define the song’s cutting-edge sound, traditionalists were slow to embrace the use of synthesisers in rock.