Tone library / Radiohead / Airbag

Airbag amp settings — Fender Champion 50XL

The Radiohead guitar tone for “Airbag”, dialed in for a Fender Champion 50XL with a Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s. Studio version, OK Computer (1997) - Main opening and chorus heavy riff

Original rig

Fender Telecaster Plus (Lace Sensor Dually Red in bridge) -> Marshall Shredmaster -> Fender Eighty-Five solid-state combo clean channel

Aggressive, uncompressed, cutting solid-state high-gain distortion with sharp attack
Amp settings — Fender Champion 50XL
CHANNELVoice: British 90s (Metal / High-Gain Marshall style)
GAIN 7 BASS 5 TREBLE 7 REVERB 0 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain7
Bass5
Treble7
Reverb0
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Marshall Shredmaster (or clone)

RECOMMENDED — not owned. Use amp high-gain voice today; with the pedal, switch amp to clean Voice 1 and set gain to 2

Gain 8 · Bass 6 · Contour 4 · Treble 7 · Volume 7
Why these settings

Jonny achieved this iconic cut by slamming a Marshall Shredmaster into the squeaky-clean solid-state Fender Eighty-Five. Because you own no pedals, the Champion 50XL must generate the distortion standalone via its British 90s / high-gain voice (the faceplate has no mid or presence knobs). On your Les Paul's warm humbuckers, push the treble to 7 to replicate the bite of his Lace Sensor bridge pickup.

PRO TIPMute the higher strings with your fretting hand and aggressively rake down across the deadened strings before hitting each fretted note on the low E string to capture Jonny's distinctive percussive attack.

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These settings are for a Fender Champion 50XL. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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