Solo Tone

Comfortably Numb (Live)

Pink Floyd

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

Guitar1969 Fender Stratocaster (alder body, late-'70s Charvel birdseye maple neck)

AmpHiwatt DR103 100-watt head + Yamaha RA-200 rotating speaker (run in parallel)

PickupsDiMarzio FS-1 single-coil (bridge), 1971 Fender Stratocaster single-coils (middle and neck)

Amp Settings

gain5.5

bass6.5

mid7

treble7

reverb3.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix 'Ram's Head' Big Muff Pi

flangerElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown, likely Binson Echorec or Boss DM-2/analog delay)

modulationYamaha Yamaha RA-200 Rotating Speaker (modulation effect)

Notes

Live performance, late 1970s/early 1980s era (The Wall tour); signal split between Hiwatt DR103 and Yamaha RA-200 rotary speaker for modulation; Big Muff and Electric Mistress used for solo section.

Tone Character(10)

singing sustainsmooth, violin-like leadliquid fuzz tonelush modulationspacious, ambient delaypowerful, dynamic attackrich harmonic overtonesexpressive bends and vibratofull-bodied, mid-forward soundcrystal-clear articulation

Difficulty

The solo requires advanced control of bends, vibrato, and sustain, as well as dynamic phrasing and tone shaping, making it challenging for most intermediate players.

Sources

David Gilmour's guitar tone on Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb: how he got his sound | Guitar World settings help for Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd What is the recipe for Pink Floyd Comfortably Numb solo tones?David Gilmour's Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Equipment | Equipboard

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