GuitarCleanRiff80% confidence
Pumped Up Kicks Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Foster the People
Foster the People · 2010s+ · other
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Mustang (likely 1970s reissue, sunburst, as seen in official video and live performances)
Pickups
Fender single-coil Mustang pickups
Amp
Fender Hot Rod DeVille (studio recording, as confirmed by producer Paul Epworth in interviews and visible in live setups)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Fender Mustang, single-coil)
Studio recording, 2010-2011. Guitarist Mark Foster played the main riff. Gear based on studio photos, interviews, and live rig evidence from the Torches era. No evidence of pedals used for the riff in the studio; effects are subtle and likely from amp or post-processing.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass5.5
Gain3
Reverb3.5
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- bright and plucky
- clean and articulate
- tight and percussive
- slightly compressed
- minimal sustain
- subtle amp reverb
- no audible overdrive
- dry, focused attack
- pop/indie clarity
- distinct single-coil snap
Notes & Caveats
- No official rig rundown or direct studio session notes found; gear and settings inferred from interviews, live footage, and genre/era conventions.
- No explicit pedal use for the riff section found in any source; effects are minimal and likely from amp or post-processing.
- Amp and guitar models confirmed by multiple live photos and interviews, but exact knob settings are estimated based on typical Fender Hot Rod DeVille clean tone for indie pop.
- If new evidence emerges of pedal use in the studio, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The riff in 'Pumped Up Kicks' features a clean, slightly edgy tone with a bright, almost jangly top end and moderate mids. The amp is set just at the edge of breakup, with a tight low end and clear presence, matching indie pop conventions and the production style of the early 2010s.