Riff Tone

Keep Talking

Pink Floyd

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (Black Strat, 1969, alder body, maple neck, EMG DG20 pickups likely for Division Bell era)

AmpHiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head with WEM Super Starfinder 200 4x12 cabinet

PickupsEMG DG20 active single-coil set (SA neck/middle, EMG EXG and SPC mid-boost circuits)

Amp Settings

gain4.5

bass5

mid8.5

treble6.5

reverb3

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

otherHeil Heil Talk Box

fuzzElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (likely Russian or Ram's Head variant)

chorusBoss Boss CE-2 Chorus (or similar, e.g., TC Electronic Stereo Chorus/Flanger)

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown, likely TC Electronic 2290 or Boss DD-2/3)

boostUnknown Clean boost (possibly Boss GE-7 EQ or similar)

Notes

Studio recording, 1993-1994 (Division Bell sessions). Gilmour used his Black Strat with EMG DG20 pickups for most of The Division Bell, including 'Keep Talking'. Hiwatt DR103 was his main amp, with effects run into the front and via effects loop. Settings estimated from era and forum references. No live/tour gear included.

Tone Character(10)

liquid, vocal-like lead tonemodulated, swirling ambiencerich, sustaining fuzzpronounced stereo delay repeatslush chorus shimmerdistinct talkbox vocal effectcranked mids and treble, cut bassclean but saturated amp basedynamic, expressive phrasingstudio-polished, spatial sound

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate skill due to the integration of talkbox technique, precise timing with delay, and sustaining notes with expressive dynamics, but does not involve advanced speed or complex chord voicings.