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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

Mids

Bass

6.5

Gain

5.5

Reverb

Treble

Presence

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

Notes & Caveats

⚠️No direct numeric amp knob settings for the 2016 Pompeii performance found; settings estimated based on typical Hiwatt DR103 use by Gilmour and classic rock conventions.
⚠️Pedal order and models are based on multiple forum discussions and pedalboard photos from the 2016 tour, but exact settings per song section are not published.
⚠️No evidence of amp reverb; all reverb is from the room or FOH, not the amp or pedalboard.
⚠️Pickup selection inferred from live footage and Gilmour's established practice for the Comfortably Numb riff section.
⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Gilmour's Pompeii 2016 'Comfortably Numb' riff tone is classic British crunch with rich mids, slightly boosted bass for warmth, and moderate gain for sustain without oversaturation. Presence and reverb are set for clarity and ambience in the open-air venue, matching his Hiwatt-based rig and signature lead tone.