Riff Tone

Nabokov

Fontaines D.C.

Guitarrock2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarFender Johnny Marr Jaguar

AmpFender '68 Custom Twin Reverb

PickupsFender Jaguar single-coil pickups

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6

mid7

treble7

reverb4.5

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

delayDrolo FX Drolo FX Echo Degrader

reverbDigitech Digitech Hardwire RV-7

chorusFreqscene Effects Co. Freqscene Koldwave Analog Chorus and Vibrato

boostMXR MXR Micro Amp

otherVein-Tap Vein-Tap Murder One

Notes

Studio recording, 2024. Conor Curley and Carlos O'Connell both used Fender Johnny Marr Jaguars for the heavy riff sections of 'Nabokov'. The amp is a Fender '68 Custom Twin Reverb, always plugged into the vintage channel with the bright switch engaged. Pedalboard includes heavy use of modulation and reverb pedals for shoegaze textures. All gear confirmed for the 'Romance' album era.

Tone Character(10)

piercing and saturateddense, swirling modulationwall-of-sound rhythmshoegaze-inspired texturebright and aggressivegated and reverse reverb tailsunpredictable, glitchy echoesimmersive and layeredhigh output, compressed attackambient, washy sustain

Difficulty

The riff requires careful control of multiple effects for the signature shoegaze wall-of-sound, as well as tight rhythm playing under heavy gain and modulation. The technical challenge is in balancing clarity and aggression while managing a complex pedalboard.

Sources

Fontaines D.C. Conor Curley & Carlos O'Connell Talk Guitar Carlos O'Connell, Fontaines D.C. Guitarist Gear - Equipboard Fontaines D.C. – Romance - Gear & Equipment Used on the Album Fontaines D.C. Rig Rundown [2025] - Premier Guitar

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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