Riff Tone

The Blue

David Gilmour

Guitarblues2000s

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (Black, likely Custom Shop or original Black Strat)

AmpHiwatt DR103 Custom 100 Head into WEM 4x12 cabinets with Fane Crescendo speakers

PickupsEMG DG20 active single-coil set (used on On An Island era, highly likely for 'The Blue' studio recording)

Amp Settings

gain3.5

bass7

mid7

treble6

reverb4

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

compressionBoss Boss CS-2 Compression Sustainer

chorusBoss Boss CE-2 Chorus

delayUnknown Delay pedal (model unknown, likely studio rack or Pete Cornish custom unit)

Notes

Studio recording, 2005-2006 (On An Island sessions). Gilmour's main studio rig for this era. No evidence of live-specific gear for the original studio version.

Tone Character(10)

warm and glassysmooth sustainpronounced chorus shimmertouch-sensitive dynamicsrich low endclear and articulateslightly compressedwide stereo imageclean with edge-of-breakup gritdynamic picking response

Difficulty

The riff is not technically complex but demands expressive phrasing, dynamic control, and clean execution with subtle modulation.

Sources

David Gilmour's Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Equipment | Equipboard Potent Pairings: Achieving the Tones of David Gilmour | Reverb News David Gilmour blues lesson: learn the Pink Floyd icon's solo secrets | Guitar World question about the effects used in David Gilmour's 'The Blue'

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