First Date — blink-1821 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarDistortedRiff

First Date Riff Guitar Tone Settings — blink-182

blink-182 · 2000s · punk

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Tom DeLonge Signature ES-333
Pickups
Seymour Duncan SH-5 Custom (bridge humbucker, stock for Tom's ES-333 signature)
Amp
Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier (blended with Marshall JCM900 4100 in studio)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording for 'First Date' (2001, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket). Tom DeLonge used his signature Gibson ES-333 with a single Seymour Duncan SH-5 Custom bridge humbucker. The amp tone was a blend of Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier and Marshall JCM900 4100, both into 4x12 cabinets. No evidence of other guitars or amps used for the main riff in the studio. Effects were mostly rack-based (TC Electronic G-Force) and/or pedals. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this section.

Amp Settings

Mids
6
Bass
6
Gain
7.5
Reverb
1.5
Treble
7
Presence
6.5

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Tone Character

  • tight and percussive
  • aggressive palm-muted attack
  • saturated high-gain crunch
  • bright and articulate
  • slightly scooped mids
  • chunky low end
  • compressed pick response
  • minimal ambience
  • dry, in-your-face
  • modern pop-punk clarity

Sources