Riff Tone

Sick, Sick, Sick

Queens of the Stone Age

Guitarrock2000s

Original Gear

GuitarAmpeg Dan Armstrong Plexi Electric Guitar

AmpUnknown (likely vintage tube amp, possibly Ampeg or custom, but not confirmed for this recording)

PickupsSingle Dan Armstrong humbucker (stock, high output)

Amp Settings

gain8

bass6

mid7

treble6.5

reverb1

presence6.5

Effects & Signal Chain

octaveElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Octave Multiplexer

fuzzUnknown Fuzz/Distortion pedal (model unknown)

Notes

Studio recording, 2007 (Era: 'Era Vulgaris' album). Guitar confirmed from music video and multiple sources. Amp model not confirmed in any source for this song's studio recording; Josh Homme is known for using a variety of vintage amps and is secretive about specifics.

Tone Character(10)

thick and fuzzyoctave-down growltight and percussiveaggressive and saturatedmid-forward punchslightly compressedminimal ambiencearticulate note separationloud and drivingdry, in-your-face

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, fast picking and palm muting to maintain clarity with heavy fuzz and octave effects, but does not involve advanced lead techniques.

Sources

Ampeg Dan Armstrong Plexi Electric Guitar - Equipboard Josh Homme's Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Amps - Equipboard Calling All Gearheads : r/qotsa - Reddit

This tone has been researched 3 times by the community

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