Riff Tone
We're In This Together
Nine Inch Nails
Guitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1990s, possibly with EMG or stock humbuckers)
AmpMarshall JCM900 (likely, based on NIN's 1990s studio/live rigs and genre conventions)
PickupsHumbucker (exact model unknown, likely stock or EMG 81/85 based on era and NIN's known gear)
Amp Settings
gain8.5
bass6
mid4.5
treble7
reverb1
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionUnknown Distortion pedal (model unknown)
noise_gateUnknown Noise gate (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 1998 (The Fragile sessions). No direct evidence for exact guitar/amp, but Les Paul and Marshall high-gain amps are strongly associated with NIN's heavy riff tones in this era. No evidence of live-specific settings or alternate guitars for this section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivebright and grindingcompressed and focusedaggressive palm mutingsaturated distortionclear note separationdense layered wall of soundminimal ambiencerhythmic precisionmodern industrial metal
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting at a fast tempo with precise rhythm and consistent attack, plus the ability to maintain clarity under heavy gain and possible multi-tracking.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1990s
Original Gear
GuitarGibson Les Paul Standard (likely 1990s, possibly with EMG or stock humbuckers)
AmpMarshall JCM900 (likely, based on NIN's 1990s studio/live rigs and genre conventions)
PickupsHumbucker (exact model unknown, likely stock or EMG 81/85 based on era and NIN's known gear)
Amp Settings
gain8.5
bass6
mid4.5
treble7
reverb1
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionUnknown Distortion pedal (model unknown)
noise_gateUnknown Noise gate (model unknown)
Notes
Studio recording, 1998 (The Fragile sessions). No direct evidence for exact guitar/amp, but Les Paul and Marshall high-gain amps are strongly associated with NIN's heavy riff tones in this era. No evidence of live-specific settings or alternate guitars for this section.
Tone Character(10)
tight and percussivebright and grindingcompressed and focusedaggressive palm mutingsaturated distortionclear note separationdense layered wall of soundminimal ambiencerhythmic precisionmodern industrial metal
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, aggressive palm muting at a fast tempo with precise rhythm and consistent attack, plus the ability to maintain clarity under heavy gain and possible multi-tracking.
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