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Planets Collide Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Crowbar
Crowbar · 1990s · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP Eclipse II
Pickups
EMG 81/85 active humbuckers
Amp
Orange Crush Pro 120H Solid State Head
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1998. Kirk Windstein used ESP Eclipse II with EMG pickups into an Orange Crush Pro 120H solid state amp. Boss MT-2 Metal Zone used as a clean boost (distortion off, level max, EQ noon). Settings are from Kirk's own description for the Orange Crush Pro, which he used after switching from Randall amps. No evidence of additional effects or pedals on the studio recording except the MT-2 boost.
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass8
Gain7
Reverb0
Treble5
Presence5
Effects Chain
- Boss MT-2 Metal Zone · boost
ESP Eclipse II (EMG 81/85) → Boss MT-2 Metal Zone (boost, distortion off) → Orange Crush Pro 120H
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Tone Character
- thick and crushing
- tight and percussive
- huge low end
- scooped mids
- sludgy and heavy
- aggressive palm muting
- dry, no ambience
- focused and punchy
- massive, saturated distortion
- articulate despite high gain
Notes & Caveats
- Amp settings (bass, mid, treble) are directly from Kirk Windstein's own description for the Orange Crush Pro, which he used after switching from Randall amps. These settings are likely representative of the studio tone, but there is a small chance the exact amp model or settings varied slightly on the original 1998 recording.
- No evidence of additional pedals or effects (chorus, delay, reverb, etc.) on the studio riff section. Chorus and phaser pedals are part of Kirk's live/down rigs but not confirmed for this recording.
- Presence and reverb settings are estimated: presence set to 5 as a neutral midpoint (not specified in sources), reverb set to 0 as the tone is dry and no reverb is audible or mentioned.
- Pickup choice inferred as bridge based on genre, tone, and typical usage for heavy riffing; not explicitly stated in sources.
- Pedal settings for the Boss MT-2 are from Kirk's own description: distortion off, level max, EQ noon.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Crowbar's 'Planets Collide' features a huge, saturated doom/sludge tone with thick low end, forward mids, and dark, almost muffled highs, typical of Kirk Windstein's style and the late '90s NOLA sludge scene. The amp is set for extreme gain, boosted bass, strong mids, rolled-off treble, and a bone-dry signal, matching both genre conventions and the song's massive, crushing guitar sound.