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My Hero — Foo Fighters1 / 2
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My Hero Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters · 1990s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Explorer (late 90s, black finish)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock, likely 496R/500T or similar for era)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Maverick 2x12 Combo
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording for 'The Colour and the Shape' (1997). Dave Grohl played all guitars on the album. Explorer confirmed for main riff by multiple sources. Maverick combo seen in studio documentary and listed as primary amp for this era. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the studio recording.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
6.5
Reverb
2
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • punchy and mid-forward
  • tight, percussive attack
  • open and ringing
  • articulate power chords
  • slightly compressed
  • full-bodied
  • harmonically rich
  • aggressive pick attack
  • clear note separation
  • not overly scooped

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings for Maverick found; settings estimated based on typical 90s Mesa/Boogie rock tones and genre/era.
  • ⚠️Explorer and Maverick combo confirmed for studio, but pedal usage for this specific song inferred from era and audio, not explicit studio notes.
  • ⚠️No evidence of chorus, flanger, phaser, or other modulation effects on the riff section; delay is not clearly audible in the riff, only in other songs.
  • ⚠️Exact pickup model not specified in sources, but stock Gibson humbuckers are most likely for this era and guitar.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Dave Grohl and Pat Smear used Mesa/Boogie and Marshall amps for 'The Colour and the Shape' era, favoring a punchy, mid-forward, crunchy rock tone with moderate gain and tight low end. The riff is clear and powerful but not overly saturated, with subtle ambience from room or plate reverb in the mix.

Sources