GuitarCleanSolo
No Surprises Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Radiohead
Radiohead · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Telecaster (likely 1960s, as used by Ed O'Brien on OK Computer era studio recordings)
Pickups
Single-coil (Fender Telecaster stock pickups)
Amp
Vox AC30 (studio, 1996-1997 OK Computer sessions; Ed O'Brien and Jonny Greenwood both used AC30s extensively on this album)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 1996-1997. Ed O'Brien played the solo on 'No Surprises' using a Telecaster through a Vox AC30. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the studio solo. No pedalboard photos from the session, but Ed's known OK Computer-era board included Boss DD-5, EHX Deluxe Memory Man, Boss TR-2 Tremolo, and Holy Grail Reverb. No evidence of overdrive/distortion for this solo.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb5
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man · delay
- Boss TR-2 Tremolo · tremolo
- Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb · reverb
Fender Telecaster → Deluxe Memory Man → Boss TR-2 Tremolo → Holy Grail Reverb → Vox AC30 (with spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- chiming and bell-like
- lush and ambient
- clear and articulate
- soft attack
- gentle sustain
- slightly compressed
- ethereal and floating
- subtle modulation shimmer
- warm neck pickup tone
- no audible distortion