GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
My Iron Lung Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Radiohead
Radiohead · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender US Telecaster Plus V1
Pickups
Lace Sensor Red (bridge humbucker)
Amp
Fender Eighty-Five solid-state combo
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Lace Sensor Red humbucker)
Studio recording, 1994. Jonny Greenwood used the Telecaster Plus V1 with the bridge humbucker into a Fender Eighty-Five amp as the clean foundation for the riff section. Pedals included DigiTech Whammy WH-1 and Marshall Shred Master. No evidence of live/tour gear or other amps for the studio recording.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain5
Reverb2
Treble6
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- DigiTech Whammy WH-1 · modulation
- Marshall Shred Master · distortion
Fender US Telecaster Plus V1 (bridge humbucker) → DigiTech Whammy WH-1 → Marshall Shred Master → Fender Eighty-Five amp (light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- compressed and punchy
- mid-forward crunch
- clear articulation despite distortion
- octave-up pitch shifting
- biting and aggressive
- dynamic attack
- not overly bright
- slightly scooped highs
- tight and focused
- distinctive alternative rock edge
Notes & Caveats
- No exact amp knob settings found in sources; settings estimated based on typical Fender Eighty-Five usage for '90s alternative rock and source tone descriptors.
- No explicit mention of amp reverb or other amp effects; reverb set low as per 'not too sparkly' and 'clear' tone descriptors.
- No pedal knob settings found; only pedal models and order confirmed.
- No evidence of additional modulation or time-based effects in the riff section; only Whammy and Shred Master confirmed.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Jonny Greenwood’s 'My Iron Lung' riff tone is classic mid-forward British crunch, likely a Vox AC30 or Marshall with moderate gain, strong mids, and balanced bass/treble for clarity and punch. The production is dry with just a touch of reverb, matching 90s alt-rock conventions and Radiohead’s typical amp settings of the era.