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Creep (Acoustic) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Radiohead
Radiohead · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Martin D-35 Acoustic Guitar
Pickups
Piezo undersaddle pickup (likely Fishman, model unknown)
Amp
Direct Input (DI) or PA system (no amp used for acoustic studio recording)
Pickup Position
Piezo undersaddle pickup (if DI), otherwise mic'd acoustic (no selector)
Studio recording, 1992. For the acoustic version of 'Creep', Ed O'Brien used a Martin D-35 acoustic guitar, likely recorded direct or mic'd, with no amp or pedals in the signal chain. No evidence of electric guitar or amp use in the acoustic riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb3
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- warm and natural
- bright and articulate
- clear and resonant
- percussive strumming
- intimate and direct
- unprocessed acoustic clarity
- dynamic response
- no amp coloration
- no audible effects
- studio-quality acoustic presence
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No explicit source confirms the exact acoustic guitar model for the acoustic version, but Martin D-35 is widely documented as Ed O'Brien's main acoustic in this era.
- No evidence of amp or pedal use for the acoustic riff section; settings are estimated based on typical studio acoustic recording practices.
- No effects (delay, chorus, reverb, etc.) are audible or documented for the acoustic riff section.
- If a live version uses a DI or PA, settings may differ; this profile is for the studio acoustic recording.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Radiohead's 'Creep (Acoustic)' riff is played on a clean, slightly warm acoustic-electric with minimal breakup, typical of early '90s British alt-rock. The tone is balanced and natural, with moderate mids and treble for clarity, restrained bass, and subtle reverb to add space without washing out the percussive strumming.