Comfortably Numb amp settings — Stranger NS30
The Pink Floyd guitar tone for “Comfortably Numb”, dialed in for a Stranger NS30 with a Ibanez RGA42FM. Studio version, The Wall (1979) — second solo tone
1969 Fender Stratocaster (Black Strat) with DiMarzio FS-1 bridge/stock neck pickups → Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Ram's Head) → Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 → WEM Super Starfinder cabs; MXR Digital Delay
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 4 |
| Presence | 5 |
| Reverb | 4 |
| Master | 6 |
01Big Muff Pi (or clone — e.g. EHX Green Russian, Mooer Triangle Buff)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This is the core of the tone; without it, the singing sustain is unobtainable. Budget options: Mooer Triangle Buff (~$50), Donner Dark Mouse (~$35)
02Digital Delay (e.g. Boss DD-3, TC Electronic Flashback, Donner Yellow Fall)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Set delay time to ~400-420ms. 2-3 repeats, mix subtle but present. Budget option: Donner Yellow Fall (~$30)
The Stranger NS30 is a low-wattage solid-state practice amp with limited headroom — the opposite of Gilmour's high-headroom Hiwatt. I pushed mids +1 over original Hiwatt settings (5→6) because your RGA42FM's humbuckers are darker and hotter than Gilmour's single coils, which would muddy the low end. Treble dropped to 4 because humbuckers don't need the brightness compensation a Strat does. Without a Big Muff, this tone fundamentally cannot be replicated — the fuzz IS the sustain. Set amp gain low (3) to stay clean; the Muff provides all saturation.
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These settings are for a Stranger NS30. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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