GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Black Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1959 reissue, Stone Gossard's main guitar on Ten)
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1991. Gear based on interviews, era, and typical setup for Stone Gossard during Ten sessions. No direct source confirms exact serial/model for 'Black' riff, but Les Paul into JCM800 is widely accepted for Ten rhythm tracks.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain4.5
Reverb2.5
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- warm and mid-focused
- open and dynamic
- slightly compressed
- clear note separation
- touch-sensitive
- organic and unprocessed
- classic Marshall breakup
- rich chord voicings
- no obvious modulation
- subtle amp reverb
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source gives exact amp or pedal settings for 'Black' riff; settings estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 use in early 90s rock and Stone Gossard's known rig.
- No explicit confirmation of pedal use for 'Black' riff; all evidence points to guitar straight into amp with minimal effects.
- No evidence of chorus, delay, or modulation effects on the riff section; only natural amp breakup and possible light amp reverb.
- Pickup position inferred from typical rhythm tone and Les Paul use; some live performances may use neck pickup for softer parts, but studio recording is likely bridge.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Stone Gossard's riff tone on 'Black' is warm, dynamic, and just at the edge of breakup, typical of early 90s grunge with a Strat or Les Paul into a clean-to-crunch tube amp (like a Fender Twin or Marshall JCM800). The mids are forward for clarity, bass is full but not boomy, treble is slightly rolled off for warmth, and reverb is subtle, matching the album's organic production.