Riff Tone

Learn to Fly

Foo Fighters

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (white, late 70s/early 80s, as used by Dave Grohl on this album)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2203 100-watt head

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, late 70s/early 80s)

Amp Settings

gain6.5

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb2.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionProCo ProCo Turbo Rat

boostMXR MXR M133 Micro Amp

Notes

Studio recording, 1999. Gear confirmed by Foo Fighters tech Earnie Bailey for 'There Is Nothing Left to Lose' sessions. ProCo Turbo Rat distortion pedal and MXR Micro Amp boost also used. No evidence of modulation or time-based pedals on riff section. Pickup selector likely set to bridge for main riff. Settings estimated based on typical JCM800 usage for this genre/era and lack of explicit numeric values in sources.

Tone Character(10)

tight and punchycrunchy and saturatedfull-bodied midrangearticulate attackclear note separationslightly compressedBritish amp bitepresent but not harsh treblecontrolled low endstudio-polished but organic

Difficulty

The riff is built on straightforward power chords and palm muting, but requires tight timing and dynamic control to match the punchy, driving feel of the original recording.

Sources

Foo Fighters – There Is Nothing Left To Lose - Equipboard

This tone has been researched 4 times by the community

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