GuitarDistortedRiff
First It Giveth Guitar Tone Settings — Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ovation Ultra GP
Pickups
DiMarzio Super Distortion humbuckers
Amp
Ampeg V-4
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2002. Josh Homme is known to have used the Ovation Ultra GP with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups and Ampeg V-4 amps for the main riff tones on 'Songs for the Deaf', including 'First It Giveth'. No evidence of live substitutions or alternate guitars/amps for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids8
Bass7
Gain7.5
Reverb0
Treble6
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Boss GE-7 Equalizer · eq
- Univox Super-Fuzz · fuzz
Ovation Ultra GP → Boss GE-7 Equalizer (mid boost) → Univox Super-Fuzz → Ampeg V-4 (no reverb)
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Tone Character
- thick and mid-forward
- fuzzy and saturated
- tight and percussive attack
- aggressive midrange emphasis
- dry with no reverb
- compressed and focused
- slightly scooped highs
- cranked amp gain
- articulate pick attack
- dense, wall-of-sound rhythm