Tone library / Pink Floyd / Comfortably numb

Comfortably numb amp settings — Marshal MG50CFX

The Pink Floyd guitar tone for “Comfortably numb”, dialed in for a Marshal MG50CFX with a Yamaha Pacifica 112V. 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 scooped-yet-musical mids and long ambient delay
Amp settings — Marshal MG50CFX
CHANNELOD-2
GAIN 7 BASS 6 MID 5 TREBLE 6 REVERB 5 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass6
Mid5
Treble6
Reverb5
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

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

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; with this pedal, switch amp to Clean channel with gain at 2

Volume 7 · Tone 5 · Sustain 8

02Digital Delay / Tape Echo

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned; set delay time to ~375ms (dotted 8th/quarter)

Time 6 · Feedback 4 · Level 4
Why these settings

Because you own no external fuzz pedal, the MG50CFX's OD-2 channel is used at gain 7 to emulate the singing saturation of the Ram's Head Big Muff. The MG50CFX faceplate has no presence control, so presence is omitted, while the onboard digital delay and studio reverb simulate the ambient space and rotary spread of the original Hiwatt/Yamaha rig. The bridge single-coil on the Pacifica provides the necessary cut, with tone backed off slightly to smooth the high-end fizz.

PRO TIPRoll the Pacifica bridge tone control down to 8 to tame the solid-state top end, and use heavy, wide left-hand vibrato to keep notes sustaining effortlessly like Gilmour's violin-like phrasing.

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These settings are for a Marshal MG50CFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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