Woman Tone

While with Cream between 1966 and 1968, Eric Clapton became known for his unique “woman tone” while playing lead guitar. Woman tone is predominantly heard on Cream’s album, Disraeli Gears. Specifically, “woman tone” can be heard on “SWALBR” and “I Feel Free” (roughly the first 80% of Clapton's solo).

Woman tone is achieved with the neck pickup on an electric guitar. The tone on the neck (non-treble) pickup is turned down as far as possible so as to inhibit treble. In the film Farewell Cream, available today on DVD, there is a segment where Eric Clapton explains this process and how he achieves woman tone.