GuitarCleanRiff80% confidence
The Ghost of You Riff Guitar Tone Settings — My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (likely 490R/498T or Burstbuckers, stock for early 2000s Les Paul Standard)
Amp
Marshall JCM800
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 2004. Ray Toro played the clean riff sections on the album version using his Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Marshall JCM800. The Boss BF-2 Flanger pedal is confirmed for the clean intro and verse sections. No evidence of Frank Iero's gear being used for the clean riff on the studio recording.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain0
Reverb2.5
Treble7
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Boss BF-2 Flanger · flanger
Guitar → Boss BF-2 Flanger → Marshall JCM800 (with spring reverb)
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Tone Character
- lush and swirling modulation
- clear and bell-like
- slightly compressed attack
- warm and rounded lows
- articulate upper mids
- shimmering top end
- subtle amp reverb
- no audible breakup
- distinct stereo movement from modulation
- smooth, sustained notes
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No direct studio amp knob settings found; amp settings estimated based on Marshall JCM800 typical clean settings for early 2000s alternative rock and the song's clean tone.
- Boss BF-2 Flanger is confirmed for the clean intro/verse by multiple sources and is clearly audible.
- No evidence of delay, chorus, or other modulation effects in the clean riff section beyond the flanger.
- Pickup position inferred from typical clean Les Paul usage and tone character; neck pickup is most likely.
- Guitar knob settings are estimated based on achieving a clean, non-overdriven sound with humbuckers into a Marshall.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The Ghost of You's riff section features a saturated, tight, and articulate high-gain tone typical of Ray Toro's Marshall/Boogie setups from the era, with mids pushed for clarity, moderate bass for punch without flub, and slightly boosted treble/presence for cut. Reverb is minimal, as per mid-2000s emo/post-hardcore production.