Riff Tone

You Only Live Once

The Strokes

Guitarrock2000s

Original Gear

GuitarEpiphone Riviera (early 2000s, stock mini-humbuckers, natural finish)

AmpFender Hot Rod DeVille 212 (60W 2x12 combo, silverface, early 2000s)

PickupsEpiphone mini-humbuckers (stock, chrome covers)

Amp Settings

gain5.5

bass6

mid6.5

treble7

reverb1.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionVisual Sound Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde (version 1 likely)

Notes

Studio recording, 2005-2006 (First Impressions of Earth sessions). Nick Valensi is confirmed to use his Epiphone Riviera and Fender Hot Rod DeVille for the main riff section. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for this part. No pedalboard photos from the studio, but multiple sources confirm this as his core setup for the album.

Tone Character(10)

crunchy but smoothtight, punchy rhythm attackbright and articulateslightly compressedfocused midrangeclear note separationminimal reverbdry, direct studio sounddynamic pick attackgarage rock bite

Difficulty

The riff is fast and requires tight alternate picking with precise muting, but uses straightforward chord shapes and no advanced techniques.

Sources

Nick Valensi's Guitar Gear, Pedalboard & Amps Amp setting? breakup? : r/TheStrokes How to Sound Like the Strokes Without Busting the Bank

This tone has been researched 7 times by the community

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