GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Over the Hills and Far Away Guitar Tone Settings — Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson EDS-1275 Double Neck (12-string neck for intro/riff)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock EDS-1275, likely Alnico V)
Amp
Marshall Super Lead 1959 (Plexi, 100-watt, KT-88 modded)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup or both pickups (12-string neck)
Studio recording, 1972 (Houses of the Holy sessions). The riff section is played on the 12-string neck of the EDS-1275. No evidence of pedals or effects used in the riff section; tone is amp-driven. Pickup selector is set to neck or both pickups for a fuller sound. No evidence of live gear or alternate guitars for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6.5
Gain4.5
Reverb2
Treble7
Presence6
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Tone Character
- chiming and bright
- open and ringing
- full-bodied midrange
- slightly gritty edge-of-breakup
- articulate and dynamic
- classic British crunch
- warm sustain
- natural 12-string shimmer
- no pedal coloration
- amp-driven clarity
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings for this song's studio riff found; settings estimated based on typical Marshall Plexi usage in classic rock and Jimmy Page's era.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used in the riff section; all effects and pedal arrays left empty accordingly.
- Guitar and amp model confirmed by multiple sources, but exact pickup selector position inferred from typical use for fullness on 12-string.
- Reverb setting is estimated low (2/10) as the tone is dry and amp-driven; any ambience is likely from studio room, not amp or pedal.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Jimmy Page's tone on 'Over the Hills and Far Away' riff is edge-of-breakup with classic British mid-forward character, likely a cranked Marshall Super Bass or Super Lead with Les Paul. The sound is punchy, not overly saturated, with strong mids, moderate bass, and a touch of reverb from room or plate, matching early '70s production and Page's typical amp settings.