GuitarDistortedRiff
Higher Ground Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers · 1980s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (likely 1962 reissue, rosewood fretboard, stock single coils)
Pickups
Fender single coil Stratocaster pickups (vintage style, 1960s spec)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2205 head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1988-1989 (Mothers' Milk album). John Frusciante used his main Stratocaster and a Marshall JCM800 for the riff section. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this part. No evidence of effects loop or amp-based effects used for the riff. All details refer to the original studio recording, not live or later performances.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- bright and biting
- articulate single note attack
- mid-forward classic Marshall crunch
- dynamic and responsive to picking
- minimal sustain
- slightly compressed
- dry, in-your-face
- no audible reverb or delay
- funky, aggressive rhythm