GuitarDistortedRiff
Exhausted Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (white, early 90s, likely used on debut album sessions)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock Les Paul Standard, likely 490R/498T or similar)
Amp
Homemade 'Can' amp (aka 'Gas Can Amp', as described by Premier Guitar) possibly in combination with a Fender Bandmaster Reverb head into a 4x12 cab
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1994-1995. The signature riff tone is from the mysterious 'Can' amp, described as 'swarm of bees' and 'disgustingly raunchy fuzz'. Some sources mention a Fender Bandmaster Reverb head with a ProCo RAT for live and possibly some studio overdubs, but the main riff tone is attributed to the Can amp. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the main riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain8
Reverb1.5
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- lo-fi and fuzzy
- raw and aggressive
- midrange-heavy
- sustain-rich
- thick and compressed
- slightly nasal
- notably saturated
- vintage fuzz-like distortion
- wall-of-sound character
- not tight or modern