Tone library / Pink Floyd / Comfortably numb

Comfortably numb amp settings — Core Id

The Pink Floyd guitar tone for “Comfortably numb”, dialed in for a Core Id with a Cort Sc200. Studio version, The Wall (1979) — second solo (most iconic)

Original rig

1969 Fender Stratocaster (DiMarzio FS-1 bridge, stock Fender neck/middle pickups) → MXR Dyna Comp → Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Ram's Head era) → Hiwatt DR103 100W (linked Normal/Brilliant channels, gain near-clean) + Yamaha RA-200 rotary speaker for modulation

Smooth, singing sustain with creamy fuzz saturation, warm midrange bloom, and subtle rotary modulation — expressive and vocal

Amp settings — Core Id

CHANNELOD1BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	5
Bass	5
Mid	6
Treble	5
Reverb	2
Master	6

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge+middle TONE8 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Compressor (MXR Dyna Comp style)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Placed before the Big Muff for front-end signal strength and sustain bloom.

Output 7 · Sensitivity 4

02Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (or clone)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This is essential; Gilmour's sustain comes from the Big Muff, not amp gain. A Behringer SF300 or EHX Green Russian reissue works.

Volume 5 · Tone 6 · Sustain 6

Why these settings

Gilmour's Hiwatt ran near-clean (gain ~3) with the Big Muff providing all saturation. Your ID:Core lacks a fuzz circuit, so OD1 at moderate gain (5) approximates the sustain character but cannot replicate Big Muff compression — a Big Muff pedal is essential for authenticity. ISF at noon (5) balances British warmth without excessive scoop. Rolled tone knob to 8 softens the Cort's bridge pickup brightness to match the FS-1's warmer output.

PRO TIPGilmour's secret was stacking moderate levels: compressor → Big Muff → clean-ish amp, each at 50-60% creates sustain greater than any single stage maxed. For the solo's vocal quality, use your neck pickup on sustained bends and bridge+middle on faster phrases.

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

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.