GuitarCleanRiff80% confidence
Amber Riff Guitar Tone Settings — 311
311 · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
PRS CE 24 (likely 1990s/early 2000s model, maple neck, rosewood board)
Pickups
PRS HFS (bridge) and Vintage Bass (neck) humbuckers, coil-split available
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, early 2000s era)
Pickup Position
Position 2 (split coil, neck + bridge, or neck single coil)
Studio recording for 'Amber' (2001). Tim Mahoney is known for using PRS CE 24 guitars and Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier amps in this era. No direct source confirms the exact guitar/amp for this song, but this is the consensus for the album period. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- glassy and clean
- chimey and percussive
- warm, rounded highs
- tight low end
- articulate note separation
- slight compression
- funk-inspired clarity
- dynamic response to picking
- studio-polished clean
- no audible overdrive
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct source confirms the exact guitar, amp, or pedal settings for the 'Amber' riff studio recording; all gear is inferred from Tim Mahoney's known 2001-era rig.
- No numeric amp settings found; values estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier clean channel settings for this genre and era.
- No explicit pickup position stated; inferred from the glassy, single-coil-like clean tone and Tim Mahoney's use of coil-split positions.
- No pedalboard or effect chain for 'Amber' riff found in any source; effects inferred from audio and typical rig.
- No evidence of chorus, flanger, phaser, or delay in the riff section; only mild reverb is audible.
- If new evidence emerges, settings and gear may need revision.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. 311's 'Amber' riff features a clean, shimmering tone with just a hint of breakup, typical of Tim Mahoney's style in this era. The amp is set for clarity and warmth, with mids and treble slightly boosted for articulation, moderate bass for balance, and subtle reverb for space, matching the reggae/alt-rock vibe and production of the early 2000s.