Tone library / Pink Floyd / Comfortably Numb

Comfortably Numb amp settings — Mvave Cuvave

The Pink Floyd guitar tone for “Comfortably Numb”, dialed in for a Mvave Cuvave with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, The Wall (1979) — rhythm parts underneath the iconic solos

Original rig

1969 Fender Stratocaster (DiMarzio FS-1 bridge), Hiwatt DR103 100W (linked channels), EHX Ram's Head Big Muff Pi, MXR Dyna Comp, Yamaha RA-200 rotary speaker

Thick, sustaining fuzz with scooped mids, warm saturation, and subtle rotary modulation — smooth and singing rather than aggressive

Amp settings — Mvave Cuvave

CHANNELClean or edge-of-breakup setting — the Cuvave's cleanest available voiceBRIGHToffBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE7 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Cuvave Compressor (if available in unit)

Emulates MXR Dyna Comp — provides the front-end squeeze that feeds the fuzz evenly

Level 7 · Sustain 4

02Cuvave Fuzz/Big Muff emulation

Critical: Sustain is LOW (30-40% travel), not maxed. Tone is warm-side of center. This is the key to Gilmour's non-fizzy fuzz. If the Cuvave lacks a Big Muff model, use a heavy distortion with gain set conservatively.

Sustain 3 · Tone 4 · Volume 7

03Cuvave Chorus (CE-2 style if available)

Emulates the Yamaha RA-200 rotary speaker — slow, subtle modulation. Place after fuzz.

Rate 2 · Depth 5

Why these settings

The Hiwatt's exceptional clean headroom means the amp stayed clean while the Big Muff provided all the saturation. The Cuvave must mirror this: amp gain at 2 ensures the fuzz drives the tone, not stacked amp distortion. Mid at 6 compensates for the Big Muff's natural mid-scoop, keeping the rhythm parts present in the mix. Tone knob rolled to 7 removes the Strat's ice-pick highs, matching Gilmour's slightly mellowed bridge pickup sound.

PRO TIPGilmour's secret was running the Big Muff Sustain at only 30-40% — most players crank it and wonder why they sound fizzy. At lower sustain, your pick attack and Strat character bleed through the fuzz, creating that vocal, singing quality. Pick lightly over the neck pickup area even when using the bridge pickup to warm individual notes.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Mvave Cuvave. 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.