GuitarDistortedRiff68% confidence
May 16 Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Lagwagon
Lagwagon · 1990s · punk
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1990s, as used by Joey Cape on 'Let's Talk About Feelings')
Pickups
Humbucker (Gibson stock or similar, passive)
Amp
Marshall JCM900 (most commonly cited for 90s Lagwagon studio recordings)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1998. Gear inferred from era, genre, and band interviews; no direct studio documentation found for this specific song. No evidence of pedal use for riff section; likely straight into amp.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive attack
- chunky, saturated rhythm
- articulate note separation
- focused midrange punch
- slightly scooped but not hollow
- minimal ambience
- no audible modulation
- classic skate punk drive
- fast, palm-muted riffing
Notes & Caveats
- No direct studio documentation or official rig rundown for 'May 16' found; gear and settings estimated based on genre, era, and typical Lagwagon setups from interviews and forum discussions.
- No evidence of pedal use or modulation/time-based effects in the riff section; distortion is likely amp-based.
- Settings are estimated for a Marshall JCM900, the most commonly cited amp for 90s skate punk and Lagwagon.
- Pickup and knob settings inferred from typical Les Paul/Marshall punk setups and audio analysis.
- If future evidence emerges of pedal use or alternate amp/guitar, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Lagwagon's 'May 16' features a tight, saturated SoCal punk tone typical of late-90s Fat Wreck bands, likely using a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier with high gain, slightly scooped mids, present treble, and minimal reverb for a dry, punchy mix.