Riff Tone

Where Is My Mind? (2007 Remaster)

Pixies

Guitarrock1980s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom '57 Reissue (black, with Bigsby vibrato)

AmpMarshall JCM800 2205 (50-watt, two-channel)

PickupsGibson PAF-style humbuckers

Amp Settings

gain4.5

bass6

mid6.5

treble7

reverb2.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1987-1988 for 'Surfer Rosa' (used for the 2007 Remaster as well). Joey Santiago confirmed use of Les Paul and Marshall JCM800 for this track. Minimal amp reverb used; no pedals in the main riff section. Peavey amps were used on some Pixies tracks, but for 'Where Is My Mind?' the JCM800 is most consistently cited. No evidence of effects loop or additional pedals for the riff.

Tone Character(10)

bright and articulateslightly compressed attackminimal reverbedge-of-breakup clarityin-your-face presenceclean but edgytrilly, ringing overtonestight low endarticulate picking responsenot heavily distorted

Difficulty

The riff is not technically demanding but requires precise picking, good timing, and control of dynamics to achieve the signature bright, ringing tone.

Sources

Pixies' Joey Santiago: 'I was afraid people would tell me I never grew up as a guitar player... but f**k it, so what?'Dear Guitar Hero: Pixies' Joey Santiago discusses his influences, making fun of guitar solos and why he gets 'lost' on an SG | Guitar World Pixies’ Joey Santiago on life as an outsider guitar hero | Guitar World What makes solid state amps disappear? | Page 6

This tone has been researched 17 times by the community

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