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No Wow Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Kills
The Kills · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Jaguar (vintage, likely 1960s, as used by Jamie Hince on 'No Wow')
Pickups
Single-coil Jaguar pickups
Amp
Vox AC30
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2004-2005. Jamie Hince is documented using a vintage Fender Jaguar and Vox AC30 for the 'No Wow' album. Effects chain includes Electro-Harmonix POG for octave/riff thickening. No direct evidence of other pedals for this specific riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass5.5
Gain6
Reverb1
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Electro-Harmonix POG · octave
Fender Jaguar → Electro-Harmonix POG → Vox AC30 (with light spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- gritty and immediate attack
- jagged, percussive riffing
- crunchy, resonant midrange
- raw and stripped-down
- minimal sustain
- octave-thickened texture
- garage rock edge
- tight and focused
- slightly lo-fi character
- aggressive, rhythmic drive
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for 'No Wow' riff; settings estimated based on typical Vox AC30 usage in garage/indie rock and Jamie Hince's known tone.
- Pedalboard listings from Premier Guitar include many pedals, but no source ties them specifically to the 'No Wow' studio riff recording.
- Electro-Harmonix POG is confirmed as a key effect for Jamie Hince and is likely used for the riff's octave-thickened sound.
- No evidence of delay, chorus, or modulation effects on the riff section; reverb is likely minimal and amp-based.
- Pickup position inferred from typical Jaguar bridge pickup use for bright, cutting riffs.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The Kills' 'No Wow' riff features a raw, mid-forward, crunchy tone with minimal low end and no audible reverb, typical of Jamie Hince's preference for a dry, aggressive, garage rock sound using vintage amps (often Fender or Silvertone) and minimal effects. The settings reflect the biting, present, and slightly lo-fi character of the recording.