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Times Like These — Foo Fighters1 / 2
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Times Like These Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters · 2000s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Trini Lopez (1966, red finish)
Pickups
Gibson humbuckers (stock on Trini Lopez, likely '60s patent number humbuckers)
Amp
Vox AC30 (handwired, studio recording)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 2002. Dave Grohl stated he used his red 1966 Gibson Trini Lopez through a Vox AC30 for clean tones on 'Times Like These'. No evidence of other guitars or amps for the clean riff section. Settings estimated based on typical AC30 clean usage and genre.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
6
Gain
0
Reverb
2.5
Treble
6.5
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • bright and articulate
  • chiming clean
  • open and ringing
  • dynamic and responsive
  • slight compression
  • clear note separation
  • percussive attack
  • warm but present highs
  • tight low end
  • no audible breakup

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
  • ⚠️No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for 'Times Like These' clean riff; settings estimated based on typical Vox AC30 clean usage for modern rock.
  • ⚠️No explicit mention of pedals or modulation effects for the clean riff section in any source; chorus/flanger/phaser not audible in the recording.
  • ⚠️Guitar and amp confirmed for studio recording, but pickup selector inferred from typical Foo Fighters clean tone and listening to isolated tracks.
  • ⚠️Reverb is subtle and likely from the amp or studio room, not a pedal.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. The riff in 'Times Like These' features a crunchy, mid-forward rock tone typical of Dave Grohl's Mesa/Marshall setup circa early 2000s, with moderate gain for clarity, balanced bass and treble, and a touch of reverb for space. The mids are slightly boosted for punch, and presence is set to add clarity without harshness.

Sources