GuitarDistortedRiff
Learn to Fly Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Custom (white, late 70s/early 80s, as used by Dave Grohl on this album)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock, late 70s/early 80s)
Amp
Marshall JCM800 2203 100-watt head
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1999. Gear confirmed by Foo Fighters tech Earnie Bailey for 'There Is Nothing Left to Lose' sessions. ProCo Turbo Rat distortion pedal and MXR Micro Amp boost also used. No evidence of modulation or time-based pedals on riff section. Pickup selector likely set to bridge for main riff. Settings estimated based on typical JCM800 usage for this genre/era and lack of explicit numeric values in sources.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6.5
Reverb2.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- ProCo Turbo Rat · distortion
- MXR M133 Micro Amp · boost
Guitar → ProCo Turbo Rat → MXR Micro Amp → Marshall JCM800 2203 (with spring reverb)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and punchy
- crunchy and saturated
- full-bodied midrange
- articulate attack
- clear note separation
- slightly compressed
- British amp bite
- present but not harsh treble
- controlled low end
- studio-polished but organic