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Dogs — Pink Floyd1 / 2
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Dogs Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd · 1970s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1971 Fender Stratocaster (Black Strat, maple neck, stock single coils, DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup at the time)
Pickups
Fender single-coil (stock neck and middle, DiMarzio FS-1 bridge)
Amp
Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head into WEM 4x12 cabinet with Fane Crescendo speakers
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (DiMarzio FS-1) or Position 4 (bridge + middle) for main riff

Studio recording, Animals sessions 1976-1977. Gilmour's Black Strat was used for the main riff. Amp was a Hiwatt DR103 with WEM/Fane Crescendo cabs. No Big Muff; distortion from Colorsound Power Boost and/or amp. Effects chain based on period-correct studio info and Gilmourish.com consensus.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
5
Reverb
2
Treble
6.5
Presence
5.5

Effects Chain

  • Colorsound Power Boost · boost
  • MXR Dyna Comp · compression
  • Electric Mistress Flanger · flanger
  • Delay pedal (Binson Echorec or similar tape delay) · delay

Guitar → MXR Dyna Comp → Colorsound Power Boost → Electric Mistress Flanger → Binson Echorec (delay) → Hiwatt DR103 → WEM 4x12 (Fane Crescendo)

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Tone Character

  • bright and articulate
  • detailed upper midrange
  • open and airy
  • slightly overdriven
  • dynamic and touch-sensitive
  • tight low end
  • clear, glassy highs
  • not heavily compressed
  • British amp crunch
  • percussive attack

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio knob settings found; amp and pedal settings estimated based on typical Hiwatt/Animals-era Gilmour setups and consensus from Gilmourish.com and The Gear Page.
  • ⚠️No evidence of Big Muff on 'Dogs' riff; distortion is from Colorsound Power Boost and/or amp overdrive.
  • ⚠️Exact pickup position for riff debated; most sources agree on bridge or bridge+middle.
  • ⚠️Pedal order and settings inferred from period-correct sources and audible effects.
  • ⚠️Some forum posts and Gilmourish.com indicate no fuzz or Muff on riff section—contradicts some generic Gilmour pedal lists.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. David Gilmour's 'Dogs' riff tone is edge-of-breakup with a smooth, British-voiced midrange and moderate warmth, likely from a Hiwatt amp with a bit of compression and subtle plate reverb. The settings reflect his preference for strong mids, controlled treble, and a touch of ambience, consistent with 1977 Pink Floyd studio production.

Sources