Comfortably Numb — Pink Floyd1 / 2
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Comfortably Numb Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd · 1970s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1970s Fender Stratocaster (Black, maple neck, stock single coils)
Pickups
Fender single-coil pickups (1970s stock)
Amp
Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head with WEM Super Starfinder 200 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Neck pickup

Studio recording, The Wall sessions (1979). This is for the main riff section, not the solo. Gilmour used his black Stratocaster with stock single coils, into a Hiwatt DR103 head and WEM cab. Pedals and effects are based on studio-era sources and audible effects in the riff section.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
4.5
Reverb
3
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • MXR Dyna Comp (script logo) · compression
  • Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix · flanger

Fender Stratocaster (neck pickup) → MXR Dyna Comp → Electric Mistress Flanger → Hiwatt DR103 amp (with plate reverb, no delay)

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Tone Character

  • warm and smooth
  • rounded neck pickup sound
  • slightly compressed
  • clear and articulate
  • mild sustain
  • touch-sensitive
  • classic rock clarity
  • not heavily distorted
  • intimate and bluesy
  • dynamic response

Sources