Riff Tone
Secret Crowds
Angels & Airwaves
Guitarrock2000s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-333 Tom DeLonge Signature
AmpVox AC30 (2000s reissue, likely Top Boost channel)
PickupsSeymour Duncan SH-6 Distortion (bridge humbucker, stock for Tom DeLonge ES-333)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass5.5
mid6.5
treble7
reverb3
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
delayBoss Delay pedal (model unknown, likely Boss DD-3 or DD-6)
Notes
Studio recording, 2007 (I-Empire album). Tom DeLonge was known to use his signature ES-333 with a single bridge humbucker and Vox AC30 amps for Angels & Airwaves recordings during this era. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight, compressed rhythm crunchambient, spacious delay repeatshigh-output humbucker puncharticulate, percussive attackwide stereo image from delaymodern, anthemic rock driveclear note separation under gainsaturated, sustaining chordspresent upper midsslightly scooped low-mids
Difficulty
The riff requires tight palm muting, accurate timing to lock with the delay, and dynamic consistency for clarity under high gain. While not technically advanced, the combination of effects and rhythmic precision makes it moderately challenging.
Sources
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Original Gear
GuitarGibson ES-333 Tom DeLonge Signature
AmpVox AC30 (2000s reissue, likely Top Boost channel)
PickupsSeymour Duncan SH-6 Distortion (bridge humbucker, stock for Tom DeLonge ES-333)
Amp Settings
gain7.5
bass5.5
mid6.5
treble7
reverb3
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
delayBoss Delay pedal (model unknown, likely Boss DD-3 or DD-6)
Notes
Studio recording, 2007 (I-Empire album). Tom DeLonge was known to use his signature ES-333 with a single bridge humbucker and Vox AC30 amps for Angels & Airwaves recordings during this era. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this riff section.
Tone Character(10)
tight, compressed rhythm crunchambient, spacious delay repeatshigh-output humbucker puncharticulate, percussive attackwide stereo image from delaymodern, anthemic rock driveclear note separation under gainsaturated, sustaining chordspresent upper midsslightly scooped low-mids
Difficulty
The riff requires tight palm muting, accurate timing to lock with the delay, and dynamic consistency for clarity under high gain. While not technically advanced, the combination of effects and rhythmic precision makes it moderately challenging.
More Angels & Airwaves tones
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