GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
What's My Age Again? Riff Guitar Tone Settings — blink-182
blink-182 · 1990s · punk
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (Tom DeLonge signature, single bridge humbucker, likely Seymour Duncan Invader)
Pickups
Seymour Duncan Invader (bridge humbucker, only pickup wired)
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, late 1990s)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Seymour Duncan Invader)
Studio recording for 'What's My Age Again?' (1999). Tom DeLonge used his signature Stratocaster with a single Seymour Duncan Invader bridge humbucker, straight into a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier head and Marshall 4x12 cab. No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; tone is amp distortion only. Pickup selector is always on bridge as it's the only wired pickup.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb0.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- bright and articulate
- aggressive pick attack
- high-gain saturation
- punchy and clear
- no ambience or reverb
- bridge pickup bite
- crisp single-note definition
- pop-punk crunch
- dry, focused rhythm tone
Notes & Caveats
- No direct numeric amp settings for the studio recording found; settings estimated based on typical Mesa Dual Rectifier use in late 1990s pop-punk and Tom DeLonge's known rig.
- No evidence of pedals or effects used for the riff section; all sources and isolated tracks indicate dry amp tone.
- Pickup selector is always bridge as only one pickup is wired on this guitar.
- Settings are for studio recording, not live.
- No reverb or delay audible in the riff; dry, direct amp sound.
- If alternate gear or settings are found in future interviews or official rig rundowns, update accordingly.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge used Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifiers for this era, dialing in a tight, punchy pop-punk crunch with moderate gain, balanced mids, and slightly boosted treble/presence for clarity. The tone is dry and direct, with minimal reverb, matching late-90s pop-punk production.