Riff Tone
Suck
Nine Inch Nails
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1980s/early 90s, as used by Trent Reznor on 'Broken')
AmpMarshall JCM800 (studio recording, as typical for 'Broken' era NIN guitar tones)
PickupsHumbucker (likely stock Gibson pickups from era, model unspecified)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass5.5
mid6
treble7
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
noise_gateUnknown Noise gate (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 1992. Guitar part was recorded at double speed and then slowed down for the final track, with heavy tape saturation. No explicit mention of pedals or amp effects, but a noise gate is likely due to the abrupt silences in the riff. No evidence of time-based or modulation effects on the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
thick and saturatedtight and percussivegated for abrupt silencewarm and compressedaggressive attackno ambience or reverbindustrial and mechanicalheavy tape saturationhigh-gain distortionchoppy, staccato riffing
Difficulty
The riff requires tight palm muting and precise timing to match the gated silences, but does not involve complex chord shapes or advanced techniques.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1980s/early 90s, as used by Trent Reznor on 'Broken')
AmpMarshall JCM800 (studio recording, as typical for 'Broken' era NIN guitar tones)
PickupsHumbucker (likely stock Gibson pickups from era, model unspecified)
Amp Settings
gain8
bass5.5
mid6
treble7
reverb0
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
noise_gateUnknown Noise gate (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 1992. Guitar part was recorded at double speed and then slowed down for the final track, with heavy tape saturation. No explicit mention of pedals or amp effects, but a noise gate is likely due to the abrupt silences in the riff. No evidence of time-based or modulation effects on the riff section.
Tone Character(10)
thick and saturatedtight and percussivegated for abrupt silencewarm and compressedaggressive attackno ambience or reverbindustrial and mechanicalheavy tape saturationhigh-gain distortionchoppy, staccato riffing
Difficulty
The riff requires tight palm muting and precise timing to match the gated silences, but does not involve complex chord shapes or advanced techniques.
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