GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Burn the Witch Guitar Tone Settings — Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Maton BB1200
Pickups
Maton BB1200 humbuckers (likely stock, coil-splittable, but likely in humbucker mode for riff)
Amp
Peavey Decade (studio recording, as seen in era photos and referenced in gear rundowns for Lullabies to Paralyze sessions)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2005 (Lullabies to Paralyze). Guitar confirmed as Maton BB1200 for Josh Homme on this track; amp is Peavey Decade (solid-state combo) as per era-specific gear references. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the studio riff section. No explicit pedalboard evidence for the riff, but some sources mention Whammy pedal use in the song (likely for solo/lead, not riff).
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6.5
Gain6
Reverb1.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
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Tone Character
- thick and mid-forward
- tight and percussive
- slightly gritty crunch
- focused low end
- clear note separation
- dry, minimal ambience
- articulate attack
- punchy rhythm
- not overly compressed
- classic stoner/desert rock
Notes & Caveats
- No direct studio amp knob settings found; estimated based on Peavey Decade typical usage for QOTSA and genre/era.
- Maton BB1200 confirmed for Josh Homme on this track; pickup position inferred from typical riff tone and live footage.
- No explicit pedal use for the riff section found; Whammy pedal is referenced for the song but likely for solo/lead, not main riff.
- No evidence of modulation, delay, or heavy reverb in the riff section; tone is dry and direct.
- Settings are estimated based on genre, era, and amp type due to lack of explicit studio documentation.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Josh Homme is known for mid-forward, crunchy, and slightly dark tones, especially in the 'Lullabies to Paralyze' era. The riff has a thick, punchy sound with prominent mids, moderate gain, and minimal reverb, matching his usual amp settings and production approach for this style.