GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
The Face Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon · 2010s+ · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson ES-325
Pickups
Mini-humbuckers
Amp
Vox AC30 (likely paired with a Fender Twin Reverb or similar, as per producer's notes on amp blending)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2010 (Come Around Sundown sessions). Producer Jacquire King and Matthew Followill used multiple amps per track, often blending a Vox AC30 and a Fender amp. Gear and amp choices were made per song, but the ES-325 and AC30 are confirmed as core for this era and style. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain5
Reverb4.5
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Guitar → Delay pedal (subtle) → Vox AC30 (spring reverb on) → Studio blend with Fender amp
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Tone Character
- bright and jangly
- ambient and atmospheric
- clear note separation
- medium crunch with punchy attack
- lush reverb tail
- slightly compressed
- wide stereo image (studio blend)
- dynamic, responsive to pick attack
- not overly saturated
- open, airy high end
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit numeric amp or pedal settings found for this song; all settings estimated based on typical Vox AC30/Fender Twin studio blends for modern rock and producer's comments.
- Guitar and amp models are inferred from era, producer interviews, and known gear for 'Come Around Sundown' sessions, but not tied to this exact riff by direct quote.
- Pedal/effect models are not confirmed for this specific recording; only effect types are included based on audible evidence and producer's description of reverb/delay use.
- No evidence of pickup selector position, but bridge pickup is most likely for the bright, cutting riff tone.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The riff in 'The Face' has a crunchy, mid-forward British rock tone typical of Kings of Leon's era and gear (often using Vox AC30s or similar), with moderate gain, pronounced mids, balanced bass/treble, and light reverb for space. The presence is slightly above neutral to add clarity without harshness.