Tone library / Foo fighters / The pretender

The pretender amp settings — Blackstar HT20R MkII

The Foo fighters guitar tone for “The pretender”, dialed in for a Blackstar HT20R MkII with a Fender American Original 60s Stratocaster. Studio version, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007), recorded at Studio 606 West

Original rig

Gibson Trini Lopez Standard (PAF humbuckers) → Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (Modern channel) for distortion, Vox AC30 for cleans

Massive scooped high-gain wall with tight low-end, aggressive upper-mid bite, and compressed sustain

Amp settings — Blackstar HT20R MkII

CHANNELOD2 (high-gain channel), ISF at 2 o'clock (British-leaning for Mesa-style scoop)BRIGHToffBOOSTon

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	8
Bass	4
Mid	6
Treble	7
Presence	5
Reverb	0
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

Your Strat's single coils are significantly brighter and lower output than Grohl's PAF humbuckers, so gain is pushed to 8 (vs the original's ~7) to compensate for the output difference. Bass is cut to 4 (original runs ~6) because single coils into the HT20's EL34 power section can get flubby. Treble raised to 7 and tone knob rolled to 8 to add the upper-mid bite the Strat lacks vs a semi-hollow. ISF set British-side to approximate the Rectifier's scooped modern voicing.

PRO TIPPalm mute directly over the bridge pickup for maximum tightness on the verse riff — the Strat's bridge single coil will get muddy if you mute too far toward the neck. Dig in hard with the pick; Grohl's attack is aggressive and the compression comes from the amp, not soft playing.

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These settings are for a Blackstar HT20R MkII. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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