Comfortably Numb (Live at Pompeii 2016) amp settings — Marshall JCM900
The David Gilmour guitar tone for “Comfortably Numb (Live at Pompeii 2016)”, dialed in for a Marshall JCM900 with a Fender American Ultra Stratocaster. Live at Pompeii 2016 (July), outro solo version with Sovtek Big Muff
1974 Hiwatt DR504 + Alessandro Redbone Special into WEM 4x12, Black Strat with SSL-5 bridge, Ram's Head/Sovtek Big Muff, Electric Mistress flanger, dual delays (430ms + 350ms)
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 2 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Presence | 4 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 6 |
01Big Muff Pi (Ram's Head or Sovtek style) — RECOMMENDED, not currently owned
RECOMMENDED — essential for the Gilmour solo sound. Sovtek 'Green Russian' or EHX Ram's Head reissue. Tone at 4 prevents ice-pick highs while keeping note definition.
02Electric Mistress Flanger — RECOMMENDED, not currently owned
RECOMMENDED — for the shimmering chorus-like sweep. Original settings: Rate 30%/10:00, Range off, Color 60%/1:00. Gilmour blended 70% wet via a Lehle mixer to avoid volume drop.
03Digital Delay #1 — RECOMMENDED, not currently owned
RECOMMENDED — set to 430ms. Boss DD-7, TC Flashback, or similar. This is the primary rhythmic delay.
04Digital Delay #2 — RECOMMENDED, not currently owned
RECOMMENDED — set to 350ms. Stacked with the first delay for the lush, cascading repeats on the outro solo.
The JCM900 is voiced mid-forward and grittier than Gilmour's pristine Hiwatt clean platform, so gain is dropped to 2 to keep the amp clean — all drive must come from the Big Muff. Mids pushed to 6 to compensate for the Hiwatt's flatter EQ center, and presence pulled to 4 to avoid the JCM900's tendency toward fizz. Treble at 5 matches the SSL-5's brightness through your Ultra Strat's similar-output pickups.
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