GuitarDistortedRiff60% confidence
Garden Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Custom (likely 1970s or late 1980s, Stone Gossard's main guitar on Ten)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock Les Paul Custom pickups, likely T-Top or 490/498 set)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet (studio recording, 1991)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1991. Stone Gossard played the main riff on 'Garden' using his Les Paul Custom through a Marshall JCM800. Mike McCready played lead/solos, but the riff is Gossard. No evidence of pedals for the riff section; distortion is from the amp. Pickup selector likely on bridge for heavy riff. No evidence of effects loop or additional pedals for the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6.5
Gain6.5
Reverb2
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- thick and saturated
- mid-heavy punch
- tight and percussive
- warm and harmonically rich
- articulate power chords
- slight amp reverb for space
- dynamic response to picking
- classic Marshall crunch
- no modulation or time-based effects
- focused, driving rhythm
Notes & Caveats
- No direct amp knob settings for 'Garden' riff found in sources; settings estimated based on Marshall JCM800 typical usage for 1990s grunge/rock.
- No explicit pedal use or effects chain for the riff section found; distortion is amp-based.
- Guitar and amp confirmed for studio Ten era, but pickup selector inferred from typical heavy riff usage.
- No evidence of modulation, delay, or chorus in the riff section; only slight amp reverb is audible.
- If new evidence of pedal use emerges, settings may need revision.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Pearl Jam's 'Garden' riff features a thick, mid-forward, slightly dark grunge tone typical of Stone Gossard's early 90s setup (Marshall/Boogie amps, Les Pauls), with moderate gain for saturated crunch, strong mids, and restrained treble/presence to avoid harshness. Reverb is subtle, matching the album's dry, direct production style.