Riff Tone

Read My Mind

The Killers

Guitarrock2000s

Original Gear

GuitarFender American Standard Stratocaster

AmpFender Hot Rod DeVille 212 III 60W 2x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp

PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock Stratocaster configuration)

Amp Settings

gain4

bass5.5

mid6.5

treble7

reverb4.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

overdriveBoss Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

chorusBoss Boss CH-1 Super Chorus

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 2006 (Sam's Town album). Gear confirmed as used by Dave Keuning for The Killers during this era. No explicit evidence for alternate guitars or amps on this specific track's riff section. No evidence of alternate pickup modifications. Settings estimated based on typical use of this amp/guitar for modern rock in studio context.

Tone Character(10)

chiming and glassybright and articulatelush and ambientmodulated shimmeropen and spacioussmooth sustainslightly compressedclear note separationdynamic and expressivesubtle chorus swirl

Difficulty

The riff requires clean, syncopated picking and chord voicings that ring clearly with delay and chorus effects. While not technically advanced, maintaining clarity and timing with the effects requires intermediate control.

Sources

The Killers Members, Gear & Sound

Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear

Create Free Account