Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
To recreate the iconic tone of 'Comfortably Numb,' we'll use the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s and the Fender Mustang LT25. The Mustang LT25's modeling capabilities will help us approximate the Hiwatt amp and Big Muff Pi fuzz used by David Gilmour. We'll start with the 'SOLO MIDBOOST' preset, adjusting the EQ and effects to match the recording's warm, mid-forward character with smooth sustain and spacious ambiance.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — main guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Neck Pickup | Select the neck pickup for a warm, smooth tone similar to Gilmour's 'Black Strat'. |
| Master Volume | 10 | Guitar volume full up — roll back to clean up the gain or drop level. |
| Tone 1 | 7 | Roll back slightly to avoid harshness and maintain warmth. |
| Tone 2 | Leave at default | Not used for neck pickup. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — amplification and effects
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | [08] SOLO MIDBOOST | Closest match to the Hiwatt amp and Big Muff Pi combination, providing the necessary gain and mid-forward character. |
| Gain | 5.5 | Increase to push into a smooth, saturated lead tone with sustain. |
| Volume | 5 | Set to balance with the band mix, based on community advice. |
| Treble | 6 | Maintain clarity without harshness, aligning with community advice. |
| Bass | 5 | Keep balanced to support the mid-forward character. |
| Master | 6 | Output level — set to the volume you're playing at; this sets loudness, not tone. |
| Effects | Compressor, Delay, Reverb | Engage compressor for sustain, delay for spaciousness, and reverb for ambient depth. Using the amp's Menu Button and Preset Select, open the effects list to reach it. Start around medium sustain, Level 5/10 — even out the picking without squashing dynamics. Press Save Button to keep it in this preset. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
Section guide — how the tone changes through the song
Verse Guitar
Switch to a clean tone with slight chorus for the verse, using the neck pickup for warmth.
- the pedal: Preset → [01] FENDER CLEAN
- the pedal: Gain → 3
What Pink Floyd actually used
David Gilmour's iconic 'Comfortably Numb' solos were recorded using his 'Black Strat' equipped with a DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup. The signal chain included an MXR Dyna Comp compressor and an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Ram's Head) fuzz pedal, feeding into a Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 amplifier. Studio effects, such as Lexicon plate reverb, were applied during mixing to achieve the final sound.
- 1969 Fender Stratocaster ('Black Strat') — main. DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup; neck and middle pickups are stock Fender single-coils
- MXR Dyna Comp — compression. Adds sustain and evens dynamics
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Ram's Head) — fuzz/overdrive. Provides smooth, violin-like sustain for solos
- Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 — amplification. Clean and powerful with massive headroom; settings: Gain 5.0, Bass 5.0, Mid 5.0, Treble 6.0, Presence 6.0, Volume 5.0
- Lexicon plate reverb — studio reverb. Long, lush reverb added during mixing
Tuning: Standard
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.rigtone.com/tone/comfortably-numb-amp-settings
- https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-secrets-behind-david-gilmours-tone-on-pink-floyds-comfortably-numb
- https://guitar.com/features/artist-rigs/the-gear-used-by-david-gilmour-pink-floyd-the-wall/
- https://www.ehx.com/blog/comfortably-numb-and-the-big-muff-pi/
- https://www.kitrae.net/music/Music_mp3_Comfortably_Numb_Sound.html