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Stellar — Incubus1 / 2
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Stellar Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Incubus

Incubus · 2000s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
PRS CE24 (1990s, likely stock pickups)
Pickups
PRS HFS Treble (bridge) and Vintage Bass (neck) humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Tremoverb (Dual Rectifier variant)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup

Studio recording, 1999-2000 for 'Make Yourself' album. Mike Einziger is confirmed to have used a PRS CE24 and Mesa/Boogie Tremoverb for the main riff sections of 'Stellar'. No evidence of live/touring substitutions for the original recording.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
6
Gain
6.5
Reverb
3
Treble
6
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Seymour Duncan 805 Overdrive · overdrive
  • MXR Dyna Comp · compression

Guitar → MXR Dyna Comp → Seymour Duncan 805 Overdrive → Mesa/Boogie Tremoverb (spring reverb on)

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Tone Character

  • thick and mid-forward
  • warm and smooth
  • slightly compressed
  • articulate note separation
  • punchy low end
  • not overly bright
  • subtle ambience
  • dynamic response
  • full-bodied
  • slightly rolled-off treble

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct studio amp knob settings for 'Stellar' found; amp and guitar models are confirmed for the album era and song, but settings are estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Tremoverb usage for this genre/era.
  • ⚠️Pedalboard sources list many effects used live and in other songs, but no evidence of modulation or time-based effects (chorus, flanger, phaser, delay) on the riff section of 'Stellar' in the studio recording.
  • ⚠️Forum and cover sources suggest boosting mids and bass, rolling off treble, and using the neck pickup for the riff tone.
  • ⚠️No evidence of effects loop usage or amp-based effects beyond subtle reverb.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mike Einziger’s 'Stellar' riff tone is a saturated, mid-forward modern rock crunch with tight lows and clear but not harsh highs, likely using a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier with moderate gain, balanced EQ, and subtle reverb for space, matching late-90s alt-rock production.

Sources