Tone library / Pink Floyd / Comfortably Numb

Comfortably Numb amp settings — Cort CM10G

The Pink Floyd guitar tone for “Comfortably Numb”, dialed in for a Cort CM10G with a yamaha apx-5. Studio version outro solo, The Wall (1979)

Original rig

Fender Stratocaster ('Black Strat' with DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup) -> MXR Dyna Comp -> EHX 'Ram's Head' Big Muff Pi -> Hiwatt DR103 100W Head & Yamaha RA-200 rotary cabinet

Smooth, singing violin-like fuzz sustain with slight rotary swirl and long ambient decay
Amp settings — Cort CM10G
CHANNELOverdrive Channel (Channel button engaged)BOOSTon
GAIN 8 BASS 6 MID 5 TREBLE 4 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain8
Bass6
Mid5
Treble4
Master6
Don’t have a Cort CM10G? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →
Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Electro-Harmonix 'Ram's Head' Big Muff Pi

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; critical for the signature singing violin sustain

Volume 7 · Tone 5 · Sustain 9

02Digital Delay (Boss DD-3 or similar)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; set to ~380ms for Gilmour ambient decay

E.Level 5 · F.Back 5 · D.Time 6
Why these settings

The Cort CM10G must rely entirely on its built-in Overdrive channel with gain pushed to 8 to approximate Gilmour's massive sustain without external pedals. Because the Yamaha APX-5 acoustic-electric piezo pickup produces an inherently harsh, bright top-end under high-gain solid-state clipping, amp treble is dialed back to 4 and guitar tone to 8 to smooth out the response. Once you acquire a Big Muff pedal, switch the Cort CM10G to the Clean channel and drop gain to 2.

PRO TIPPick with the flesh of your thumb lightly grazing the string right after the pick strike to add subtle artificial harmonic overtones on sustained bends.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Cort CM10G. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play
More tones for the Cort CM10G
Master of PuppetsMetallica
Find your amp
Browse
Cort CM10G settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Comfortably Numb on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Pink Floyd tonesALL SONGS Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.

Get ToneAdapt — first match free