Riff Tone

Machine head

Bush

Guitarrock1990s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Jaguar (likely 1990s Japanese reissue, as used by Gavin Rossdale on Sixteen Stone)

AmpMesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb head (used in studio for Sixteen Stone, including 'Machinehead')

PickupsFender Jaguar single-coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass6

mid5.5

treble6.5

reverb1.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

noise_gateUnknown Noise gate (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 1994-1995. Gavin Rossdale used a Fender Jaguar into a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb for the main riff tones on 'Machinehead'. No evidence of live/touring substitutions or alternate guitars/amps for the studio recording. Pedal use is debated, but the core riff tone is widely attributed to guitar → amp with minimal effects.

Tone Character(10)

thick and crunchytight and percussivemid-heavy puncharticulate note separationbassy but not muddydynamic and responsiveaggressive pick attackBritish-voiced crunchfull-bodied modern rockslightly compressed

Difficulty

The riff requires precise palm muting, aggressive picking, and dynamic control to keep the crunchy tone articulate and tight, but does not involve advanced lead techniques or complex chord voicings.

Sources

Rig Rundown - Bush's Chris Traynor - Premier Guitar Tone like bush : r/GuitarAmps - Reddit [QUESTION] Which guitar for this sound? - Reddit

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