GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Song for the Dead Guitar Tone Settings — Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Marauder
Pickups
Stock Gibson Marauder pickups (single-coil in neck, humbucker in bridge, both with unique wiring)
Amp
Ampeg V-4
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2002. Josh Homme used a Gibson Marauder into an Ampeg V-4 amp for the main riff section on 'Song for the Dead.' Multiple sources confirm the Marauder and Ampeg pairing for Songs for the Deaf studio sessions. Pedals were used for boost and EQ. No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb0
Treble4.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- ZVEX Super Hard On · boost
- Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive · overdrive
- Boss GE-7 Graphic Equalizer · eq
Gibson Marauder → ZVEX Super Hard On → Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive → Boss GE-7 EQ → Ampeg V-4
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Tone Character
- thick and saturated
- mid-forward and punchy
- tight, percussive attack
- dry, no ambience
- dark, low-treble
- fuzzy but controlled
- aggressive and heavy
- compressed and focused
- minimal sustain
- articulate riff clarity
Notes & Caveats
- No direct amp knob photos for this song; amp settings estimated from similar QOTSA tones and Ampeg V-4 usage.
- Pedal order inferred from multiple sources; exact chain order in studio may vary.
- No evidence of time-based or modulation effects in the riff section; only gain/EQ/boost pedals confirmed.
- Pickup choice inferred from typical Homme usage and tone analysis; some sources mention neck pickup for other songs, but bridge is most likely for this riff.
- Settings are for studio recording, not live.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Josh Homme's tone on 'Song for the Dead' is thick, mid-forward, and aggressive but not overly saturated, typical of his Matamp/Orange setup with high gain, strong mids, and a relatively dry, punchy sound. The bass is solid but not boomy, treble is controlled to avoid harshness, and reverb is absent for a tight, direct feel.