GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Quicksand Riff Guitar Tone Settings — The Story So Far
The Story So Far · 2010s+ · punk
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Telecaster (exact model not confirmed, but Telecaster is most commonly associated with Will Levy for this era and song)
Pickups
Single-coil (likely Fender stock Telecaster pickups, exact model not confirmed for this recording)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (3 Channel, Non Multi-Watt, NMW)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2015 (self-titled album). Amp confirmed by multiple live and studio sources for this era and song. Guitar model inferred from era-appropriate live and studio use, but not 100% confirmed for this specific track. No explicit studio pedalboard photo for this song, so only effects with strong evidence or audible in the recording are included.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain7.5
Reverb1.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
Effects Chain
- Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer · overdrive
- Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor · noise_gate
Fender Telecaster → Ibanez TS9DX Turbo Tube Screamer → Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor → Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Solo Head (spring reverb low)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
Adapt to MY Gear →7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- tight and saturated
- aggressive and percussive
- articulate note separation
- punchy and modern
- slight compression
- controlled low end
- focused midrange
- cutting top end
- minimal ambience
- no modulation or delay audible
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit studio pedalboard or amp setting photo for 'Quicksand' riff section; amp settings estimated based on typical Mesa Dual Rectifier use in modern pop-punk and Will Levy's live tones from this era.
- Guitar model inferred from live/studio consistency and genre conventions; not 100% confirmed for this specific recording.
- No evidence of modulation, delay, or reverb pedals in the riff section; only amp reverb at low setting is likely.
- Pedals such as Tube Screamer, chorus, and Benson Preamp are seen in live/post-2015 setups, but no direct evidence for their use on this specific studio riff section.
- All effects included are either confirmed by source or clearly audible in the recording; no inferred effects added without strong evidence.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The Story So Far's 'Quicksand' riff uses a modern pop-punk tone: high gain for aggression, tight bass, balanced mids (not scooped), and bright but not harsh treble/presence. Reverb is minimal, as is typical for tight, punchy punk mixes from this era.