Riff Tone

Broken City

Audioslave

Guitarrock2000s

Original Gear

Guitar1982 Fender 'Sendero Luminoso' Stratocaster (Tom Morello's main Strat, stock pickups, locking tremolo, toggle kill switch)

AmpMarshall JCM 800 2205 head into Peavey 4x12 cabinet

PickupsFender single-coil (stock, likely ceramic, Strat-style)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

modulationDigiTech DigiTech Whammy (original WH-1)

wahDunlop Cry Baby Wah

eqDOD DOD FX40B Equalizer

phaserMXR MXR Phase 90

delayDOD DOD FX90 Digital Delay

Notes

Studio recording, 2005-2006 (Revelations album sessions). Tom Morello is documented as using the same amp, guitar, and pedalboard setup for all Audioslave studio recordings. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this track. Settings are estimated based on Morello's long-standing claim of never changing his amp settings since 1988. No evidence of live-specific changes for this song's riff section.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussiveaggressive attacksaturated, harmonically rich distortionpronounced midrange bitearticulate low endcrisp, cutting trebledynamic response to pickingmodern alternative/hard rock crunchclear note separation under gainslightly scooped but present mids

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate technical skill due to syncopated rhythms, tight muting, and expressive pedal use (Whammy and Wah), but does not involve advanced soloing or extreme speed.

Sources

Audioslave Guitarist Tom Morello: 'I'm A Great Believer In A Good Riff'BROKEN CITY TAB by Audioslave @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com Tom Morello's pedalboard, from The Met museum

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