Riff Tone

Trying Not to Love You

Nickelback

Guitarrock2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom (likely 2000s model, as used by Chad Kroeger in studio/live for heavy sections)

AmpMesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio and live for distorted tones)

PickupsEMG 81/85 active humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain7

bass6

mid6

treble6.5

reverb2.5

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

noise_gateISP ISP Decimator

Notes

Studio recording, 2011-2012 era (Here and Now album). Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake both use Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifiers for heavy/distorted sections. Fender Super 60 is used for cleans only. Pedalboard is extensive but not all pedals are used on every song; focus is on core distortion and noise gate for riff.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivemodern high-gain saturationarticulate attackcompressed rhythm tonefocused low endcontrolled feedbackclear note separationaggressive bridge pickup soundminimal ambient effectsstudio-polished heaviness

Difficulty

The riff requires tight palm muting and precise timing to maintain clarity under high-gain settings, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast tempo, making it accessible to intermediate players.