GuitarCleanRiff80% confidence

Breathe (In the Air) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd · 1970s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar

Fender Stratocaster (Black Strat, 1969 body, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)

Pickups

Fender single-coil (late 60s/early 70s, stock for era)

Amp

Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head into WEM Super Starfinder 200 4x12 cabinet

Pickup Position

Position 4 (neck + middle)

Studio recording, 1972-1973, The Dark Side of the Moon sessions. Guitar is the Black Strat with stock single-coils (not EMGs). Amp is Hiwatt DR103, no evidence of Marshall or Fender amps for this song in studio. Effects are mostly pedals, not amp-based.

Amp Settings

Mids

7.5

Bass

5.5

Gain

2.5

Reverb

5.5

Treble

6.5

Presence

5.5

Effects Chain

Uni-Vibe (modulation pedal, likely Shin-ei Univibe or similar) · modulation
MXR Phase 90 (phaser pedal, or similar) · phaser
Clean boost (model unknown, likely Colorsound Power Boost or similar) · boost

Fender Stratocaster → Uni-Vibe → MXR Phase 90 → Clean Boost → Hiwatt DR103 → WEM 4x12 cab (studio plate reverb added at mix)

Tone Matcher

Match This Tone to Your Gear

Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.

Adapt to MY Gear →

7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.

Tone Character

lush and swirling modulation
warm and glassy
smooth, slightly compressed clean
airy and ambient
gentle phase/vibe movement
clear note separation
rounded attack
subtle plate reverb
dynamic and touch-sensitive
no audible overdrive or fuzz

Notes & Caveats

⚠️No direct studio knob settings for Hiwatt DR103 found for 'Breathe'; settings estimated based on typical Gilmour settings for this era and forum consensus.
⚠️Some forum sources mention Marshall or Fender amps, but primary evidence and interviews confirm Hiwatt DR103 for studio recording.
⚠️Pedal models are based on era-correct gear and audible effects; exact settings for modulation pedals are not documented.
⚠️Presence setting is estimated based on typical Hiwatt usage and Gilmour's tone.
⚠️Reverb is likely plate from studio, not amp-based; included as amp effect for practical recreation.
⚠️No evidence of fuzz, Big Muff, or heavy overdrive in the riff section—clean/modulated tone only.
⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Gilmour's tone on 'Breathe' is warm, rounded, and just on the edge of breakup, typical of a Hiwatt amp with a Strat and mild overdrive. The mids and bass are prominent for fullness, treble is restrained to avoid harshness, and moderate reverb recreates the song's spacious, airy feel.