GuitarDistortedRiff
Yellow Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Coldplay
Coldplay · 2000s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Telecaster Thinline (likely 1972 reissue, maple neck, semi-hollow, single-coil pickups)
Pickups
Fender Wide Range Humbucker (neck and bridge), but likely using bridge pickup for main riff
Amp
Fender Hot Rod DeVille 2x12 combo
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, year 2000 (Parachutes album). Guitar and amp confirmed by multiple sources for this era and song. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the studio riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain4
Reverb5
Treble7
Presence5.5
Effects Chain
- Boss OS-2 OverDrive/Distortion · overdrive
- Guyatone Micro Chorus · chorus
- Delay pedal (model unknown, likely rack or studio unit) · delay
- Compressor pedal (model unknown, possibly Origin Effects Cali76 or rack unit) · compression
Fender Telecaster Thinline → Compressor → Boss OS-2 OverDrive/Distortion → Guyatone Micro Chorus → Delay pedal (studio/rack) → Fender Hot Rod DeVille (spring reverb on)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- bright and chimey
- slightly gritty edge-of-breakup
- clear note separation
- ambient and spacious
- articulate and percussive attack
- open, airy highs
- mildly compressed sustain
- modulated shimmer
- not heavily distorted
- warm yet present midrange