GuitarDistortedRiff
Comfortably Numb (Live at Pompeii 2016) Guitar Tone Settings
David Gilmour · 2010s+ · rock
live
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Custom Shop David Gilmour Signature Stratocaster (Black Strat replica, used live at Pompeii 2016)
Pickups
Custom-wound single-coil pickups (exact models: Seymour Duncan SSL-5 bridge, Fender Custom Shop '69 neck, Fat '50s middle)
Amp
Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head with WEM Super Starfinder 200 4x12 cabinet (used live at Pompeii 2016)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Seymour Duncan SSL-5), selector in position 1
Live performance, 2016. Guitar is the Black Strat replica with Gilmour's custom pickup configuration. Amp is the Hiwatt DR103, his main live amp for this tour. No evidence of amp reverb or built-in effects; all effects are from pedals. Settings are estimated based on typical Gilmour live rig and genre/era.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6.5
Gain5.5
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Compressor · compression
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (likely custom Cornish-modded variant) · fuzz
- Boss CS-2 Compressor (possible alternate/backup to Cali76) · compression
- Boss GE-7 Equalizer · eq
- Delay pedal (likely TC Electronic Flashback or Free The Tone Flight Time) · delay
- DigiTech Whammy (5th Gen) · modulation
Guitar → Cali76 Compressor → Big Muff (Cornish) → Boss CS-2 (if used) → Boss GE-7 EQ → Delay pedal (TC Electronic Flashback or Free The Tone Flight Time) → DigiTech Whammy (as needed) → Hiwatt DR103 amp → WEM 4x12 cab
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Tone Character
- rich, harmonically complex crunch
- clear note separation
- dynamic, touch-sensitive response
- slightly compressed attack
- warm, rounded lows
- sparkling highs
- open, three-dimensional sound
- classic British amp character
- not high-gain, retains clarity