Riff Tone
Brain of J.
Pearl Jam
Guitarrock1990s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (Mike McCready, studio recording, 1997)
Amp1968 Marshall JMP Plexi 50w head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
PickupsGibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb1.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
overdriveIbanez Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Notes
Studio recording for 'Yield' (1997); McCready primarily used his Les Paul Standard through a Marshall JMP Plexi for the main riff. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. Stone Gossard likely used a Gibson Les Paul or similar with Marshall or Fender amp, but McCready's Les Paul/Marshall is the dominant riff tone.
Tone Character(10)
raw and punchy midrangetight, percussive attackopen, dynamic crunchslight breakup on chordsarticulate pick attackclassic Marshall biteminimal reverb, dry soundpresent upper midsfull-bodied low endaggressive, driving rhythm
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and tight palm muting at a high tempo, with aggressive dynamics and precise chord transitions, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.
Sources
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Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (Mike McCready, studio recording, 1997)
Amp1968 Marshall JMP Plexi 50w head into Marshall 4x12 cabinet
PickupsGibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb1.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
overdriveIbanez Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Notes
Studio recording for 'Yield' (1997); McCready primarily used his Les Paul Standard through a Marshall JMP Plexi for the main riff. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section. Stone Gossard likely used a Gibson Les Paul or similar with Marshall or Fender amp, but McCready's Les Paul/Marshall is the dominant riff tone.
Tone Character(10)
raw and punchy midrangetight, percussive attackopen, dynamic crunchslight breakup on chordsarticulate pick attackclassic Marshall biteminimal reverb, dry soundpresent upper midsfull-bodied low endaggressive, driving rhythm
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, accurate alternate picking and tight palm muting at a high tempo, with aggressive dynamics and precise chord transitions, making it moderately challenging for intermediate players.
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