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Time Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd · 1970s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (Black Strat, 1969 model, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, custom electronics)
Pickups
Custom-wound single-coil pickups (late 60s Fender, likely with Seymour Duncan SSL-1 in bridge by 1972, but for 'Time' likely stock or rewound Fender single coils)
Amp
Hiwatt DR103 100W head into WEM Super Starfinder 200 4x12 cabinet (Fane Crescendo speakers)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1972-1973, The Dark Side of the Moon sessions. Gilmour's Black Strat was used for the solo, with the Hiwatt DR103 as the main amp. Effects were mostly pedals, not amp-based. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this section.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6.5
Gain
5.5
Reverb
3.5
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Triangle or Ram's Head) · fuzz
  • Binson Echorec (delay unit) · delay
  • Hiwatt Custom 100 DR103 (amp, no pedal) · other

Fender Stratocaster → Big Muff Pi → Binson Echorec → Hiwatt DR103 → WEM 4x12 cab (plate reverb added in studio mix)

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Tone Character

  • singing sustain
  • smooth and round lead tone
  • warm midrange
  • slightly compressed
  • delicate delay repeats
  • lush reverb tail
  • articulate bends and vibrato
  • dynamic pick attack
  • not overly saturated
  • classic British amp character

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No primary source gives exact knob settings for the studio recording; amp settings are estimated based on typical Hiwatt usage for Gilmour in this era and genre.
  • ⚠️Pickup model is inferred from era and Black Strat configuration; some sources mention later modifications, but for 'Time' (1973) likely stock or rewound Fender single coils.
  • ⚠️Pedal models are based on best available evidence and common knowledge of Gilmour's 1973 board; specific settings are not documented in sources.
  • ⚠️Delay and reverb are clearly audible in the solo but exact pedal models and settings are not confirmed in sources; delay is likely Binson Echorec, reverb is likely plate from studio or pedal.
  • ⚠️No evidence of modulation (chorus, flanger, phaser) in this solo section.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Gilmour's 'Time' solo uses a Hiwatt amp with moderate gain for sustain but not heavy distortion, strong mids for vocal quality, slightly boosted bass for warmth, restrained treble to avoid harshness, neutral presence, and moderate reverb for space—matching the era's production and his signature tone.

Sources