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21st Century Schizoid Man (Including "Mirrors") — King Crimson1 / 2
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21st Century Schizoid Man (Including "Mirrors") Guitar Tone Settings

King Crimson · 1960s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Custom (1957, black, 'Black Beauty')
Pickups
Gibson PAF humbuckers
Amp
Marshall 100-watt Super Lead (Plexi, late 1960s)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1969. Guitar: Robert Fripp's original Les Paul Custom with PAFs. Amp: Marshall Plexi, likely with no master volume. Fuzz: Burns Buzzaround. No evidence of other pedals or effects for the riff section. Settings estimated based on era, amp, and genre. No evidence of amp reverb or other built-in effects.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
6.5
Reverb
0
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Burns Buzzaround Fuzz · fuzz

Gibson Les Paul Custom → Burns Buzzaround Fuzz → Marshall Super Lead Plexi

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Tone Character

  • gnarly, saturated fuzz
  • razor-sharp attack
  • aggressive and biting
  • compressed, thick midrange
  • buzzsaw-like sustain
  • raw, uncompressed dynamics
  • percussive and punchy
  • vintage germanium fuzz character
  • British amp crunch
  • tight, focused low end

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings found; settings estimated based on Marshall Plexi usage in late 1960s rock context.
  • ⚠️Confirmed use of Burns Buzzaround fuzz for riff section; no evidence of other pedals or effects.
  • ⚠️No evidence of amp reverb or time-based/modulation effects on the riff section.
  • ⚠️Pickup position inferred from typical usage for aggressive riffing and tonal match to recording.
  • ⚠️Studio recording context; live gear may differ.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Robert Fripp's tone on '21st Century Schizoid Man' is a mid-forward, crunchy British sound typical of late '60s Marshall amps, with pronounced attack and little to no reverb due to the dry, aggressive mix. The gain is set for classic rock crunch, and the EQ is balanced but mid-boosted for clarity and cut.

Sources