TonesMatch
Numb — LINKIN PARK1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarCleanSolo80% confidence

Numb Solo Guitar Tone Settings — LINKIN PARK

LINKIN PARK · 2000s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
PRS Custom 24 (likely 2002-2003 model, as used by Brad Delson on Meteora sessions)
Pickups
PRS HFS (bridge) and Vintage Bass (neck) humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (clean channel) into Mesa/Boogie Rectifier 4x12 cabinet
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (Vintage Bass humbucker), possibly with coil split for added clarity

Studio recording, 2002-2003. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the clean solo section. All gear confirmed for Meteora studio sessions, but no explicit pedalboard details for this specific clean solo.

Amp Settings

Mids
5
Bass
5.5
Gain
0
Reverb
2.5
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Compressor pedal (model unknown) · compression

PRS Custom 24 → Compressor (subtle, model unknown) → Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (clean channel, digital reverb) → Mesa/Boogie Rectifier 4x12 cabinet

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Tone Character

  • crystal clear
  • bright and articulate
  • slightly compressed
  • tight low end
  • present upper mids
  • smooth sustain
  • studio-polished
  • subtle ambient reverb
  • distinct note separation
  • no audible modulation

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
  • ⚠️No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for the clean solo section; settings estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier clean channel use in early 2000s rock.
  • ⚠️No explicit pedalboard or effects chain for the clean solo section found; effects inferred from audio and genre conventions.
  • ⚠️PRS Custom 24 and Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier confirmed for Meteora sessions, but pickup selector position and coil split use are inferred based on typical clean tone practices.
  • ⚠️No evidence of chorus, flanger, or phaser in the solo section; only subtle reverb and possible light compression are audible.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Brad Delson's 'Numb' solo tone is tight, saturated, and modern, reflecting Mesa/Boogie Rectifier usage with high gain, slightly scooped mids, controlled bass, and clear but not harsh treble/presence. The reverb is minimal, as is typical for nu-metal production of the early 2000s.

Sources