GuitarDistortedRiff
21 Guns Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Green Day
Green Day · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1956 Gibson Les Paul Junior
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB (bridge position, P-90 style single humbucker)
Amp
Marshall JTM45 (1974 reissue or clone, likely studio amp for 21st Century Breakdown)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2008-2009. Billie Joe Armstrong used his 'Floyd' 1956 Les Paul Junior with a Seymour Duncan JB pickup for the main rhythm/riff sections of '21 Guns.' The amp was a Marshall JTM45, as confirmed for the album sessions. No evidence of live/tour gear or alternate guitars for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6.5
Reverb2.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Boss GE-7 Graphic Equalizer · eq
Guitar → Boss GE-7 EQ → Marshall JTM45 (with light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- crunchy and dynamic
- pronounced midrange punch
- warm and thick
- articulate attack
- tight, focused low end
- slightly compressed
- open, classic rock voicing
- not high-gain, but saturated
- clear note separation
- edge-of-breakup