Riff Tone
The Widow
The Mars Volta
Guitarrock2000s
Original Gear
GuitarIbanez AX120 (likely, as used by Omar Rodríguez-López in Frances the Mute era)
AmpFender Princeton Reverb (blackface, vintage reissue or original)
PickupsStock Ibanez humbuckers (likely ceramic, model unspecified)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb4.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 2004-2005. Omar reportedly used a Fender Princeton (mic'd with SM57) for 'The Widow' riff section, with no distortion pedal—amp pushed for natural breakup. No evidence of live/touring gear or alternate amps for this section.
Tone Character(10)
raw and dynamicmidrange biteslightly compressed attackopen and uncompressedtouch-sensitive breakupvintage tube saturationcrunchy and articulateaggressive pick attacknatural amp overdriveminimal processing
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate skill due to its dynamic use of amp breakup, need for precise articulation, and maintaining groove at a moderate tempo.
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Original Gear
GuitarIbanez AX120 (likely, as used by Omar Rodríguez-López in Frances the Mute era)
AmpFender Princeton Reverb (blackface, vintage reissue or original)
PickupsStock Ibanez humbuckers (likely ceramic, model unspecified)
Amp Settings
gain6.5
bass6
mid7
treble6.5
reverb4.5
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 2004-2005. Omar reportedly used a Fender Princeton (mic'd with SM57) for 'The Widow' riff section, with no distortion pedal—amp pushed for natural breakup. No evidence of live/touring gear or alternate amps for this section.
Tone Character(10)
raw and dynamicmidrange biteslightly compressed attackopen and uncompressedtouch-sensitive breakupvintage tube saturationcrunchy and articulateaggressive pick attacknatural amp overdriveminimal processing
Difficulty
The riff requires intermediate skill due to its dynamic use of amp breakup, need for precise articulation, and maintaining groove at a moderate tempo.