GuitarDistortedRiff
No One Knows Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ovation Ultra GP
Pickups
DiMarzio Super Distortion humbuckers
Amp
Peavey Standard 260 (riff, left channel) blended with Ampeg VT-40 and Ampeg V-4B (chorus/overdriven parts, right channel)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2002. Multiple amps were blended for the main riff section: Peavey Standard 260 head (left), Ampeg VT-40 and V-4B (right). Guitar confirmed as Ovation Ultra GP with DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups for main riff. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass7
Gain7
Reverb0.5
Treble4.5
Presence5
Effects Chain
- ZVEX Super Hard On Boost · boost
- Boss GE-7 Graphic Equalizer · eq
Ovation Ultra GP → ZVEX Super Hard On Boost → Boss GE-7 EQ → Peavey Standard 260/Ampeg VT-40/V-4B (no reverb, no time-based effects)
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Tone Character
- mid-forward, punchy
- thick, saturated distortion
- tight, percussive rhythm
- dry, minimal ambience
- aggressive pick attack
- slightly fuzzy edge
- clear note separation despite heavy gain
- compressed, focused mids
- low treble, not harsh
- dense, layered sound