TonesMatch
Anthem — blink-1821 / 2
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Anthem Riff Guitar Tone Settings — blink-182

blink-182 · 2000s · punk

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Tom DeLonge Signature Stratocaster (1999-2001, alder body, single Seymour Duncan Invader humbucker, hardtail bridge)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader (bridge humbucker)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (2-channel, 1990s revision) into Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (only wired pickup on Tom DeLonge Strat)

Studio recording, year 1999-2000 (Enema of the State sessions). No pedals used for rhythm/riff section; distortion from amp. Tom DeLonge's live and studio rig for this era was extremely minimal: single-humbucker Strat into Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, no pedalboard for rhythm parts. Pickup selector fixed to bridge position (only one pickup wired).

Amp Settings

Mids
6
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
7
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • aggressive high-gain crunch
  • chunky low end
  • bright and cutting
  • midrange punch
  • articulate attack
  • minimal note smear
  • slight room/spring reverb ambience
  • no modulation or delay
  • thick humbucker saturation

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings for 'Anthem' found in sources; settings estimated based on era, amp model (Mesa Dual Rectifier), and genre.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or additional effects used in the studio for the riff section; all distortion from amp.
  • ⚠️Tom DeLonge's Strat for this era only had a single bridge humbucker wired; pickup selector is non-functional.
  • ⚠️Reverb setting is estimated as a touch of amp spring reverb for space, based on genre/era and audible recording characteristics.
  • ⚠️No evidence of modulation, delay, or other effects in the riff section; signal chain is guitar → amp.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Tom DeLonge's 'Enema of the State' era tone is high-gain but not overly saturated, with a tight low end, forward mids, and crisp treble for pop-punk clarity. He used a Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier with mids higher than typical metal, low reverb, and moderate presence for cut without harshness.

Sources