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Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd) guitar tone and amp settings

Comfortably Numb guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3: Clean amp type, low gain (Gain 3), forward mids (Middle 6.5), smooth top (Treble 6), bridge pickup.

Tuning: E standard

Settings for your amp

Pick a reference amp

The song has distinct sounds: Intro, Acoustic verse, Acoustic chorus, Distorted solo, Outro. Each rig below lists what to change for them.

Comfortably Numb settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3 settings for every song

These settings play the distorted solo, outro.

AmpBOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

VariationOff
Amp TypeClean
Gain3
Volume6Moderate amp level keeps the clean preamp from dominating the distortion.
Bass4.5
Middle6.5
Treble6
Booster ColorOrange
Booster5
Mod0
FX0
Delay0
Reverb0
Set to your roomMaster
Set to your roomPower Control

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output gives the fuzz-like drive a strong signal.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Variation
Off
Amp Type
Clean
Gain
3
Volume
6
Bass
4.5
Middle
6.5
Treble
6
Booster Color
Orange
Booster
5
Mod
0
FX
0
Delay
0
Reverb
0
Master
Set to your room
Power Control
Set to your room

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7

A rotary-speaker simulator would better recreate the parallel Yamaha RA-200 texture.

Comfortably Numb settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40

Positive Grid Spark 40 settings for every song

These settings play the distorted solo, outro.

AmpPositive Grid Spark 40

Amp TypeClean
Gain3
Bass4
Mid6.5
Treble6
Set to your roomMaster
Mod0
Delay0
Reverb0
Set to your roomOutput
App Amp ModelSilver 120in the app, optional
App DriveGuitar Muffin the app, optional
App Comp/WahRed Compin the app, optional
App Mod/EQOffin the app, optional
App DelayOffin the app, optional
App ReverbOffin the app, optional

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output gives the Muff strong signal and sustain.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Amp Type
Clean
Gain
3
Bass
4
Mid
6.5
Treble
6
Master
Set to your room
Mod
0
Delay
0
Reverb
0
Output
Set to your room
App Amp Model
Silver 120
App Drive
Guitar Muff
App Comp/Wah
Red Comp
App Mod/EQ
Off
App Delay
Off
App Reverb
Off

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7

A real acoustic guitar and rotary-speaker emulation would improve the non-electric parts.

Comfortably Numb settings on a Fender Mustang LT25

Fender Mustang LT25 settings for every song

These settings play the distorted solo, outro.

AmpFender Mustang LT25

Amp Model70S UK CLNin the menu
Gain3.5
Volume7Set the preset level while keeping the Hiwatt-style gain moderate.
Treble6
Bass5
Middle6.5in the menu
Set to your roomMaster
StompBIG FUZZin the menu
ModNonein the menu
DelayNonein the menu
ReverbNonein the menu

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output helps drive the amp model and sustain the lead.
Tone7.5
The same settings in text

Amp

Amp Model
70S UK CLN
Gain
3.5
Volume
7
Treble
6
Bass
5
Middle
6.5
Master
Set to your room
Stomp
BIG FUZZ
Mod
None
Delay
None
Reverb
None

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7.5

An acoustic guitar is needed to match the Nashville-tuned rhythm part.

Comfortably Numb settings on any amp with Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble

These settings play the distorted solo, outro.

Amp

Gain6.5
Bass5
Mid6.5
Treble6

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output helps drive the amp for sustain.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
6.5
Bass
5
Mid
6.5
Treble
6

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7

Add a Big Muff for the solo’s defining fuzz and sustain.

Song parts

BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

  1. Intro:

    Gain 2.5, Delay Color Green, Delay 2, Reverb Color Orange, Reverb 2.5, Pickup Selector Neck

    .

    Keep the clean notes spacious and lightly touched.

  2. Acoustic verse:

    Amp Type Acoustic, Gain 2, Booster 0, Delay Color Green, Delay 1.5, Reverb Color Orange, Reverb 2, Pickup Selector Neck, Tone 8

    .

    Use the acoustic voicing for a brighter, gentler strum.

  3. Acoustic chorus:

    Amp Type Acoustic, Gain 2, Booster 0, Pickup Selector Neck, Tone 8

    .

    Strum lightly to suggest the Nashville-tuned acoustic part.

Song parts

Positive Grid Spark 40

  1. Intro:

    Gain 2, Delay 3, Reverb 3, App Delay Digital Delay, App Reverb Hall Natural

    .

    Keep the clean notes spacious and lightly delayed.

  2. Acoustic verse:

    Amp Type Acoustic, Gain 2, Mid 5, Delay 2, Reverb 2, App Amp Model Pure Acoustic, App Drive Off, App Comp/Wah Off, App Delay Digital Delay, App Reverb Hall Natural, Pickup Selector Neck

    .

    Use the acoustic model and a gentle, even strum.

  3. Acoustic chorus:

    Amp Type Acoustic, Gain 2, Mid 5, Reverb 1, App Amp Model Pure Acoustic, App Drive Off, App Comp/Wah Off, App Reverb Room Studio A, Pickup Selector Neck

    .

    Strum lightly to suggest the bright acoustic rhythm.

Song parts

Fender Mustang LT25

  1. Intro:

    Gain 2, Stomp None, Delay DELAY, Reverb LARGE HALL, Pickup Selector Neck

    .

    Play clean, sustained notes with spacious repeats

  2. Acoustic verse:

    Gain 2, Stomp None, Delay DELAY, Reverb LARGE HALL, Pickup Selector Neck

    .

    Use a light touch to soften the humbucker sound

  3. Acoustic chorus:

    Gain 2, Stomp None, Pickup Selector Neck

    .

    Play cleanly with gentle strums

Song parts

Any amp with Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble

  1. Intro:

    Gain 2.5, Pickup Selector Neck, Volume 7

    .

    Play gently for a cleaner, warmer sound.

  2. Acoustic verse:

    Gain 2.5, Pickup Selector Neck, Volume 7

    .

    Use light picking to suggest the acoustic part.

  3. Acoustic chorus:

    Gain 2.5, Pickup Selector Neck, Volume 7

    .

    Keep the attack gentle for an acoustic-like approximation.

The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

The solos are played on Gilmour's black 1969 Fender Stratocaster, which he has used since about 1970. A DiMarzio FS-1 in the bridge gives more output than stock Strat pickups, and a toggle adds the neck pickup for the first solo. The solo tone runs through a Hiwatt DR103 and a Yamaha rotating speaker cabinet in parallel, with a Big Muff fuzz and an MXR Dyna Comp in the chain, the fuzz and amp each at moderate volume so their gain stacks. An Ovation acoustic in a modified Nashville tuning carries the rhythm on the choruses and later verses. Whether the first solo was one take or a composite of several is disputed.

  • Record five or six takes of the solo, then piece the best phrases together into one composite.
  • Start with a strong signal up front so the sustain sings through the fuzz and the amp.

What gear did David Gilmour use on Comfortably Numb?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

David Gilmour

Guitar
1969 Fender Stratocaster[2]
Pickup
DiMarzio FS-1[2]
Effects
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi[2]

David Gilmour · Distorted solo

Amp
Hiwatt DR103[2]
Effects
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi[3], MXR Dyna Comp[3]
  • Gilmour said the black Strat he bought at Manny's in New York is the one on Comfortably Numb. (on this song)[1]
  • Distorted solo: Guitar World says the solos went through a 100-watt Hiwatt half stack and a Yamaha RA-200 revolving speaker system, run in parallel. (on this song)[2]
  • Guitar World's original-gear box lists a custom Hiwatt DR103 head with a linked channel input for the solos. (on this song)[2]
  • Distorted solo: Guitar Player says the solo sound combined a Big Muff fuzz, an MXR Dyna Comp and a Hiwatt DR103 amplifier. (on this song)[3]
  • Distorted solo: Guitar World says the Big Muff and the Hiwatt stack gain, each set to moderate volume levels. (on this song)[2]
  • Guitar World says the Yamaha rotating speaker adds subtle modulation and body to the Big Muff's midrange tones. (on this song)[2]
  • Guitar.com says the Strat's bridge pickup was a DiMarzio FS-1, with stock Fender single coils in the neck and middle positions. (on the album The Wall)[4]
  • Guitar World says the Strat's DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup gave hotter output than stock Strat pickups. (on this song)[2]
  • Distorted solo: Guitar World says a toggle engaged the neck pickup so the bridge and neck pickups could work together on the first solo. (on this song)[2]
  • Guitar World's original-gear box lists the solo guitar as a 1969 Fender Stratocaster with an alder body. (on this song)[2]
  • Guitar Player says a DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup is believed to have been installed at the time of the recording. (on this song)[3]
  • Solo: Gilmour said he recorded five or six solos and combined the best phrases into one composite solo. (on this song)[5]
  • Solo: Accounts differ: Bob Ezrin recalls the first solo as one complete take, which conflicts with Gilmour's account of a composite of several takes. (on this song)[5]
  • Guitar World's original-gear box lists the solo guitar's strings and tuning as standard. (on this song)[2]
  • Acoustic chorus: Guitar World says an Ovation Custom Legend 1619-4 in a modified Nashville tuning provides the acoustic rhythm track on the choruses and the verses after the first. (on this song)[2]
  • Guitar World says the key to Gilmour's sustain is a strong signal up front. (on this song)[2]

Questions

What gear did David Gilmour use on Comfortably Numb?

The sources on this page document David Gilmour's gear on Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd: guitar, 1969 Fender Stratocaster [2]; pickup, DiMarzio FS-1 [2]; effects, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi [2]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the Comfortably Numb settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3?

For the Comfortably Numb guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3, set Amp Type Clean, Gain 3, Volume 6, Bass 4.5, Middle 6.5, Treble 6, Booster Color Orange, Booster 5, Mod 0, FX 0, Delay 0, Reverb 0; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 7. Set Master and Power Control to your room. These settings play the distorted solo and outro. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Comfortably Numb settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40?

For the Comfortably Numb guitar tone on a Positive Grid Spark 40, set Amp Type Clean, Gain 3, Bass 4, Mid 6.5, Treble 6, Mod 0, Delay 0, Reverb 0, App Amp Model Silver 120, App Drive Guitar Muff, App Comp/Wah Red Comp; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 7. Set Master and Output to your room. These settings play the distorted solo and outro. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Comfortably Numb settings on a Fender Mustang LT25?

For the Comfortably Numb guitar tone on a Fender Mustang LT25, set Amp Model 70S UK CLN, Gain 3.5, Volume 7, Treble 6, Bass 5, Middle 6.5, Stomp BIG FUZZ, Mod None, Delay None, Reverb None; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 7.5. Set Master to your room. These settings play the distorted solo and outro. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What tuning is Comfortably Numb in?

Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd is played in E standard, according to the cited source [2]. Tune to it before you set the amp, or the riff will not sit right against the record.

Can I get the Comfortably Numb tone on my own amp?

Yes. The settings above cover 3 reference amps and any amp with the basic controls. For your exact rig, KnobMaster, an iPhone app, sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for Comfortably Numb, using only the controls your gear has.

Get it for your exact rig

KnobMaster sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for this song.

Download KnobMaster on the App Store