Foo Fighters Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Dave Grohl brought a drummer's energy to guitar tone. The Foo Fighters' sound — ProCo RAT distortion, Mesa Rectifiers, and Vox AC30s — is driving, propulsive, and built for maximum energy.
Signature Sound
The Foos' guitar tone is aggressive and rhythmic. The ProCo RAT provides gritty, biting distortion for the harder songs. Mesa Rectifiers add thickness and sustain. Vox AC30s bring chiming texture for layered parts. The overall approach is about energy and momentum — the guitar tone drives the song forward like a drumbeat.
Featured Tone
The Pretender (2007)
1967 Gibson Trini Lopez Standard / Gibson DG-335 → Mesa
Glassy, pristine clean arpeggios in intro (AC30 shimmer), building to massive wall of layered mid-focused distortion. Individual tracks are standard rock tones; the combined effect is enormous. Tone defined more by arrangement and layering than any single guitar sound.
Typical Gear & Settings
Average Amp Settings
Amplifiers
- Fender (Zinky) Custom Shop ToneMaster 2x12 100W
- Mesa
Guitars
- 1978 Gibson RD Standard (Two-Tone Sunburst)
- 1967 Gibson Trini Lopez Standard (Cherry Red)
- 1967 Gibson Trini Lopez Standard
- Gibson DG-335
Pickups
- humbucker
Effects & Pedals
distortion
ProCo Turbo Rat / ProCo Rat 2 (1 song)
phaser
MXR Phase 90 (1 song)
delay
Boss DM-2 Analog Delay / Boss DD-3 Digital Delay (1 song)
Playing Style
Foo Fighters Song Tones
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