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Wish You Were Here Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Incubus
Incubus · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
PRS CE 24 (early 2000s, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, 24 frets)
Pickups
PRS HFS Treble (bridge) and Vintage Bass (neck) humbuckers, stock
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb 2x12 combo
Pickup Position
Neck pickup
Studio recording, 2001. Mike Einziger is known to use his PRS CE 24 for clean sections on 'Wish You Were Here' and a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb combo amp for both clean and dirty tones in the studio. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the clean riff section. Settings are estimated based on typical Mesa clean tones and genre/era. Pedalboard is extensive, but only effects clearly audible and/or cited for clean sections are included.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain3.5
Reverb4.5
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- MXR Dyna Comp · compression
PRS CE 24 → MXR Dyna Comp → Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb (clean channel, spring reverb on)
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Tone Character
- glassy and hi-fi
- lush and spacious
- slightly compressed attack
- chimey top end
- wide stereo image
- ambient, shimmery reverb
- clear note separation
- no audible breakup
- subtle modulation depth
- studio-polished clarity
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source provides exact amp knob settings for the clean riff section; values estimated based on typical Mesa/Boogie Trem-O-Verb clean channel settings for early 2000s alternative rock.
- No direct confirmation of pickup selector position, but neck pickup is strongly inferred from tone and genre.
- Pedalboard sources list many effects, but only compression and reverb are clearly audible and/or cited for the clean riff; chorus and delay are not prominent in the clean section.
- No evidence of chorus, flanger, or phaser in the clean riff section; these are used elsewhere in the setlist or for other songs.
- No evidence of amp-based effects other than reverb; all other effects are pedal-based or not used in this section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mike Einziger's tone on 'Wish You Were Here' is classic edge-of-breakup/crunch with a warm, mid-forward character typical of his Mesa/Boogie and Vox usage in this era. The riff is articulate but not overly bright, with moderate reverb for space, and the amp settings reflect a balanced, punchy rock tone with a touch of air and ambience.