GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Avon Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Marauder
Pickups
Stock Gibson Marauder pickups (single-coil at neck, humbucker at bridge, both with unique wiring)
Amp
Peavey Series 260 Standard PA
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1997-1998. Gear confirmed for debut album sessions. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the main riff. Live rigs and later tours used different gear.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass7.5
Gain7.5
Reverb1
Treble6
Presence5
Effects Chain
- Univox Super-Fuzz · fuzz
Gibson Marauder → Univox Super-Fuzz → Peavey Series 260 Standard PA (minimal spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- thick and saturated fuzz
- raw and aggressive attack
- mid-heavy punch
- loose, gritty low end
- slightly compressed sustain
- percussive and staccato riffing
- notably dry with minimal reverb
- distinctive stoner/desert rock fuzz
- tight, focused rhythm
- articulate note separation
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings found for 'Avon'; settings estimated based on Peavey 260 PA and genre/era.
- Pedal and effect models inferred from multiple sources and genre conventions; no studio session sheet available.
- Guitar and amp confirmed for debut album, but pickup selector position inferred from tone and typical usage.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; fuzz/distortion is the primary effect.
- If new evidence emerges of alternate gear or effects for the studio recording, settings may need revision.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Josh Homme's early QOTSA tone on 'Avon' is thick, fuzzy, and mid-forward, with a huge low end and little to no reverb, reflecting the stoner/doom influence and his use of Matamp/Orange amps. The gain is high but not modern-metal saturated, and the treble is kept in check for warmth.