Riff Tone
Hard to Explain
The Strokes
Guitarrock2000s
Original Gear
GuitarFender American Professional II Stratocaster
AmpFender Hot Rod Deluxe IV
PickupsFender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (bridge position)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5.5
mid6.5
treble7
reverb0.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
overdriveBoss Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 2001, Is This It album. Clean tone for riff/verse. Guitar: Albert Hammond Jr.'s Stratocaster, bridge pickup. Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV, no amp reverb. No chorus or heavy effects. Delay pedal possibly used for subtle ambience. Settings from ToneMirror and corroborated by multiple sources.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatetight and percussiveslightly grittypunchy attackdry and directminimal ambienceno reverb or chorusbridge pickup claritylocked, 8th-note rhythmgarage rock edge
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, consistent rhythm picking and clean articulation, but does not involve complex chord shapes or advanced techniques. The main challenge is maintaining the punchy, percussive feel at a steady tempo.
Sources
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Original Gear
GuitarFender American Professional II Stratocaster
AmpFender Hot Rod Deluxe IV
PickupsFender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (bridge position)
Amp Settings
gain0
bass5.5
mid6.5
treble7
reverb0.5
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
overdriveBoss Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 2001, Is This It album. Clean tone for riff/verse. Guitar: Albert Hammond Jr.'s Stratocaster, bridge pickup. Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV, no amp reverb. No chorus or heavy effects. Delay pedal possibly used for subtle ambience. Settings from ToneMirror and corroborated by multiple sources.
Tone Character(10)
bright and articulatetight and percussiveslightly grittypunchy attackdry and directminimal ambienceno reverb or chorusbridge pickup claritylocked, 8th-note rhythmgarage rock edge
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, consistent rhythm picking and clean articulation, but does not involve complex chord shapes or advanced techniques. The main challenge is maintaining the punchy, percussive feel at a steady tempo.
Hard to Explain settings for your amp
Exact settings ToneAdapt players use on these amps.
More The Strokes tones
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- You Only Live Once · riff
- Is This It · riff
- Someday · riff
- Hard to Explain · riff
- Last Nite · solo
- Reptilia · solo
- Selfless · riff
- At The Door · riff
- Oblivius · solo