GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Far Cry (Live) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Rush
Rush · 2010s+ · rock
live
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess
Pickups
Custom humbuckers (likely Gibson Burstbucker or similar, as per Lifeson's signature model)
Amp
Hughes & Kettner TriAmp MKII
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Live performance, post-2007 era (Snakes & Arrows tour and beyond). Lifeson is known to use his signature Les Paul Axcess and Hughes & Kettner amps for 'Far Cry' live. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this song's riff section in live settings.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Pro Co Rat · distortion
- Strymon Flint · reverb
- Shin-ei B1G preamp pedal · boost
Guitar → Shin-ei B1G preamp pedal → Pro Co Rat → Strymon Flint → Hughes & Kettner TriAmp MKII
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Tone Character
- tight, articulate riffing
- modern high-gain clarity
- aggressive, punchy attack
- rich harmonic content
- controlled feedback
- clear note separation
- crisp, defined highs
- full-bodied low end
- dynamic response to picking
- slight reverb ambience
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact knob settings for 'Far Cry (Live)' riff section; amp and EQ settings estimated based on typical Hughes & Kettner TriAmp usage for Lifeson in this era and genre.
- Pedal models inferred from Lifeson's known live rig and audible effects; no direct pedalboard photo or official rundown for this specific song/section.
- Pickup choice inferred from typical live performance footage and tone characteristics.
- Settings are for live performance, not studio recording.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Alex Lifeson's 'Far Cry (Live)' tone is a modern hard rock crunch with clarity and punch, using moderate gain for articulation. He favors forward mids and balanced bass/treble to cut through Rush's dense mix, with subtle reverb for live ambience. These settings reflect his typical Hughes & Kettner/Marshall amp approach from this era.