Creep by Radiohead — 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.
This setup captures the dynamic contrast between the clean, jangly verses and the aggressive, distorted choruses of 'Creep'. The Squier Stratocaster provides the single-coil brightness needed, while the Fender Mustang LT25's modeling capabilities allow for both clean and distorted tones. The chorus effect is essential for depth, and subtle reverb adds space.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — Main rhythm tone
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Neck Pickup | The neck pickup provides the warm, clean tone needed for the verses. |
| Master Volume | 8 | Set to 8 for a clean yet dynamic response in the verses. |
| Tone 1 | 7 | Tone 1 at 7 to maintain brightness without harshness. |
| Tone 2 | 10 | Tone wide open — roll it down to soften the high end. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — Amplification
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | [01] FENDER CLEAN | This preset provides the clean Fender tone needed for the verses. |
| Gain | 4 | Set to 4 for a clean tone with slight grit in the verses. |
| Volume | 5 | Balanced volume to maintain dynamics between clean and distorted sections. |
| Treble | 6 | Treble at 6 for brightness without being harsh. |
| Bass | 4 | Bass at 4 to keep the low end tight and clear. |
| Master | 5 | Master volume at 5 to balance overall output. |
| Effects | Chorus | Engage chorus for depth and dimension in the clean sections. Using the amp's Menu Button and Preset Select, open the effects list to reach it. Start around Rate 3/10, Depth 6-7/10, Level 5/10 — slower and deeper reads watery; faster and shallower reads subtle shimmer. 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
Chorus
Aggressive, distorted tone for the powerful chorus sections.
- the pedal: Preset → [04] CLASSIC ROCK
- the pedal: Gain → 8
What Radiohead actually used
Recorded at Chipping Norton Recording Studios in 1992, 'Creep' features Jonny Greenwood's Fender Telecaster Plus through Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb amps, with a Marshall ShredMaster pedal for the distinctive distorted guitar strikes. A Roland Dimension D chorus effect was added during mixing for depth.
- Fender Telecaster Plus — main rhythm. neck pickup
- Marshall ShredMaster — distortion. used for aggressive guitar strikes in the chorus
- Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb Combo Amp — amplification. one set to clean for verses, another set to distortion for choruses
- Roland Dimension D — chorus effect. applied during mixing for added depth
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.kuassa.com/radiohead-creep-guitar-tone-breakdown/
- https://equipboard.com/albums/radiohead-creep
- https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/the-story-behind-radiohead-creep