GuitarDistortedRiff
Black Summer Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers · 2010s+ · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, as used by John Frusciante on Unlimited Love sessions)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (vintage-style, stock on Stratocaster)
Amp
Marshall Major (primary), with Fender Silverface Twin Reverb and Marshall Jubilee blended (studio recording, 2021)
Pickup Position
Position 4 (neck + middle)
Studio recording for 'Unlimited Love' (2021). Frusciante is confirmed to have used his classic Stratocaster and Marshall Major as the main amp for the riff section. Pedalboard was stripped down for the album, with DS-2 Distortion and Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble confirmed for the riff tone. Settings are estimated based on typical Frusciante studio setup for this era and genre.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain4
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion · distortion
- Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble · chorus
Fender Stratocaster → Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion → Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble → Marshall Major (with spring reverb, possibly blended with Fender Twin Reverb)
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Tone Character
- chiming and glassy
- slightly gritty edge-of-breakup
- lush chorus shimmer
- articulate and dynamic
- open and airy
- clear note separation
- modulated clean with subtle drive
- vintage-voiced amp character
- touch-sensitive response
- present midrange with sparkling highs