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Even Flow — Pearl Jam1 / 2
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Even Flow Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (Stone Gossard, riff section)
Pickups
Humbuckers (Gibson stock, bridge position for riff)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 (cranked, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1991. Stone Gossard played the main riff on a Les Paul with bridge humbucker into a cranked Marshall JCM800. Mike McCready played fills and solos on a Strat, but the riff is Stone's part. Tube Screamer-style overdrive used for extra gain. No evidence of modulation effects on riff, only slight reverb.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
6.5
Reverb
2
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (or similar overdrive pedal) · overdrive

Gibson Les Paul Standard (bridge pickup) → Tube Screamer-style overdrive → Marshall JCM800 (cranked, slight spring reverb)

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Tone Character

  • thick and mid-forward
  • tight, percussive attack
  • dynamic and funky
  • slightly saturated crunch
  • punchy bridge humbucker sound
  • classic 90s alternative rock edge
  • touch-sensitive response
  • hint of room reverb
  • no modulation or delay
  • articulate with palm muting

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No source provides exact numeric amp settings; values estimated based on typical Marshall JCM800 settings for 90s alternative rock and forum consensus.
  • ⚠️Pedal models for the studio recording are not confirmed; Tube Screamer-style overdrive inferred from multiple sources.
  • ⚠️Mike McCready's Strat and effects (wah, delay) are for fills/solo, not main riff.
  • ⚠️No evidence of modulation or delay on the main riff section; only slight reverb is audible.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Stone Gossard's 'Even Flow' riff tone is classic early-90s grunge: crunchy but not high-gain, with strong mids and a balanced EQ. Likely using a Marshall JCM800 or similar, these settings reflect the punchy, mid-forward, slightly compressed sound, with minimal reverb as was typical for the era and genre.

Sources