TonesMatch
Everlong — Foo Fighters1 / 2
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Everlong Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Trini Lopez (1967, semi-hollow, stopbar tailpiece, stock pickups)
Pickups
Gibson 'Patent Number' humbuckers (vintage PAF-style)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (100W, 2-channel, 1990s version) into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1996-1997 for 'The Colour and the Shape'. Guitar and amp confirmed by multiple interviews and Foo Fighters techs. No evidence of live/tour substitutions for the original studio riff section.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
6
Gain
7
Reverb
0.5
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Pro Co RAT · distortion

Gibson Trini Lopez (bridge pickup, volume/tone full) → Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (high-gain channel, no reverb) → Marshall 4x12 cab. Pro Co RAT possibly used for overdub layers.

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • aggressive and saturated
  • articulate palm-muted chugs
  • punchy midrange
  • slightly scooped but not hollow
  • clear note separation
  • raw and in-your-face
  • semi-hollow resonance
  • hard picking attack
  • minimal ambience

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings found in sources; values estimated based on typical Mesa Dual Rectifier settings for 1990s alt-rock and confirmed gear.
  • ⚠️No evidence of modulation, delay, or reverb effects in the riff section; all effects listed are based on both source review and critical listening.
  • ⚠️Some sources mention Pro Co RAT and MXR Micro Amp in Grohl's general rig, but no direct evidence they were used on the original studio riff for 'Everlong'.
  • ⚠️Pickup choice inferred from tone and known Foo Fighters studio practices; bridge pickup is standard for this riff's attack.
  • ⚠️Settings are for studio recording, not live recreations.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The 'Everlong' riff tone is a thick, crunchy, mid-forward rock sound typical of Dave Grohl's Mesa/Marshall setups in the late '90s, with moderate gain, balanced EQ, and minimal reverb due to the dry, punchy mix style of the era.

Sources