Comfortably Numb amp settings — Harley benton HB-80R
The Pink Floyd guitar tone for “Comfortably Numb”, dialed in for a Harley benton HB-80R with a Aria pro 2 STG-series. Studio version, The Wall (1979) — second solo
1969 Fender Stratocaster (DiMarzio FS-1 bridge) → MXR Dyna Comp → EHX Big Muff Pi (Ram's Head) → Hiwatt DR103 (linked channels, clean headroom) → WEM 4x12 cabinet
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 4 |
| Presence | 5 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 6 |
01Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (or clone)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This pedal is non-negotiable for this tone. The Behringer SF300 ($25) or Donner Dark Mouse ($35) are budget clones that get you 80% there. Without a Big Muff, this tone is unobtainable.
The Harley Benton HB-80R is a solid-state practice amp with a voiced mid-scoop similar to Fender designs — the opposite of Gilmour's mid-forward Hiwatt. I've pushed mids to 6 and pulled treble to 4 to compensate. Gain stays low at 3 because the amp's job is clean amplification; the Big Muff must provide all saturation. Your Aria STG-series has stock single coils with lower output than Gilmour's hot DiMarzio FS-1, so the Big Muff's Sustain setting compensates. Without the Big Muff, crank amp gain to 7 for a distant approximation, but it will sound fizzy and lack sustain — this is a fuzz tone, not an amp tone.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Harley benton HB-80R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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