GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Anesthetize Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree · 2000s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
PRS Mike Mushok Signature SE Baritone
Pickups
PRS SE Baritone stock humbuckers
Amp
Bad Cat Lynx 50
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording for 'Anesthetize' riff section, from the 2007 album 'Fear of a Blank Planet'. Guitar and amp confirmed for this era; pedal use inferred from era and sources. No direct evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this riff in studio.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Bad Cat 2-Tone Tube Preamp · overdrive
PRS Mike Mushok SE Baritone → Bad Cat 2-Tone Tube Preamp → Bad Cat Lynx 50 (minimal spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- saturated distortion
- articulate low end
- clear note separation
- aggressive attack
- modern, high-gain
- slightly scooped mids
- minimal ambience
- heavy, extended range
- focused, punchy rhythm
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source provides exact amp knob settings; values estimated based on amp model, genre, and era.
- Pedal and effect model specifics are not confirmed for the studio riff section; overdrive pedal inferred from era and genre, and from general gear lists.
- No explicit pickup selector position stated, but bridge pickup is highly likely for heavy riff clarity.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; only overdrive/distortion is clearly audible.
- Settings and effects are for the studio recording, not live performances.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Steven Wilson's 'Anesthetize' riff tone is modern, tight, and saturated but not overly scooped, reflecting his use of high-gain amps (often Mesa/Boogie or Diezel) with moderate mids and a clear, articulate top end. The bass is controlled for clarity, presence is boosted for definition, and reverb is minimal to maintain the dry, punchy character typical of modern prog-metal production.