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I Sat by the Ocean — Queens of the Stone Age1 / 2
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GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence

I Sat by the Ocean Guitar Tone Settings — Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age · 2010s+ · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Maton BB1200
Pickups
Maton humbuckers (custom-wound, PAF-style)
Amp
Peavey Decade (solid state combo, late 1970s/early 1980s)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 2013. Josh Homme is known for using the Peavey Decade for lead/solo tones on ...Like Clockwork, including 'I Sat by the Ocean'. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the solo section. No confirmed pedal use for the solo; most drive comes from amp and guitar. Tuning is E standard.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
7
Reverb
2.5
Treble
7
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • thick and saturated
  • slightly fuzzy edge
  • singing sustain
  • tight low end
  • cutting upper mids
  • articulate note separation
  • aggressive attack
  • forward and present
  • medium compression
  • minimal ambience

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio documentation of pedal or amp knob settings for this specific solo; amp and guitar models are confirmed by multiple interviews and rig rundowns.
  • ⚠️Settings estimated based on typical Peavey Decade usage for QOTSA solos and genre/era conventions.
  • ⚠️No evidence of specific pedals used on the solo; Josh Homme is known to avoid pedals for lead tones on this album.
  • ⚠️No explicit mention of effects loop or additional studio effects for the solo section.
  • ⚠️If a subtle delay or reverb is present, it is likely from the mixing desk or room, not a pedal or amp effect.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Josh Homme’s solo tone on 'I Sat by the Ocean' is a mid-forward, crunchy sound with moderate gain, tight but not boomy lows, and a slightly prominent midrange for cut. The treble and presence are set to keep clarity without harshness, and reverb is subtle, matching the dry, punchy production style of '...Like Clockwork.'

Sources