GuitarDistortedRiff
The Zephyr Song Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
1962 Fender Stratocaster (original or reissue, rosewood fretboard)
Pickups
Fender single-coil pickups (vintage-style, stock or period-correct replacements)
Amp
Marshall Major 200-watt head (studio recording, By the Way era)
Pickup Position
Position 4 (neck + middle)
Studio recording, 2001-2002. John Frusciante used his '62 Stratocaster for the riff section on 'The Zephyr Song.' The amp was typically a Marshall Major 200-watt head, sometimes blended with a Fender Showman, but for the driven/distorted riff sections, the Marshall Major is most likely primary. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this section. Effects are primarily from pedals, not amp-based.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain4
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble · chorus
- Ibanez WH-10 Wah · wah
- Boss DS-1 Distortion · distortion
Guitar → Ibanez WH-10 Wah → Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble → Boss DS-1 Distortion → Marshall Major 200-watt head (with plate reverb)
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Tone Character
- nasal midrange focus
- bright and articulate
- slightly compressed
- modulated shimmer
- open, airy top end
- tight, controlled low end
- dynamic pick response
- chorus-like swirl
- not heavily saturated
- clear note separation