Artists / Queens of the Stone Age

Era Vulgaris artwork

Sick, Sick, Sick guitar tone

Queens of the Stone Age · Era Vulgaris · 2007 · Alternative

High Gain

Main Riff

AmpVox AC30
GuitarGibson SG
PickupBridge humbucker
GAIN7.5
BASS5
MID4
TREBLE5.5
PRESENCE5
REVERB0.5

SIGNAL CHAIN

  1. Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer boost
    Drive 1.5 · Tone 5.5 · Level 9
    Nearly-clean boost that tightens the low end.
  2. Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor eq
    Threshold 5.5
    Keeps the palm-muted riffs tight and quiet.

Scooped mids sound huge alone — add mids back on stage to cut through.

Lead

Solo Boost

AmpVox AC30
GuitarGibson SG
PickupBridge humbucker
GAIN8.5
BASS5
MID4.5
TREBLE5.5
PRESENCE5
REVERB0.5

SIGNAL CHAIN

  1. Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer boost
    Drive 1.5 · Tone 5.5 · Level 9
    Nearly-clean boost that tightens the low end.
  2. Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor eq
    Threshold 5.5
    Keeps the palm-muted riffs tight and quiet.
  3. MXR Carbon Copy delay
    Time 3.5 · Repeats 3 · Mix 3
    Kicks in for the solo — repeats tucked under the dry signal.

Lead variant: extra gain and mids to cut through, delay for width. Pick nearer the bridge and let bends sustain.

These are starting points, not gospel. Every amp is a little different, so let your ears do the last 10%.

Open in ToneAmp

Adapt this tone to your own amp and pedals in the app.

More by Queens of the Stone Age