Fake Plastic Trees amp settings — Fender Frontman10G
The Radiohead guitar tone for “Fake Plastic Trees”, dialed in for a Fender Frontman10G with a Epiphone SG Standard. Studio version, The Bends (1995) — Jonny Greenwood's shimmering tremolo arpeggiated part
Fender Telecaster Plus with Lace Sensor pickups, Vox AC30 or Fender Eighty-Five amp, Demeter TRM-1 Tremulator tremolo, EHX Small Stone phaser, Boss RE-20 Space Echo delay, Boss CE-2 Chorus
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 2 |
| Bass | 4 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Master | 5 |
01Tremolo pedal (Demeter TRM-1 Tremulator or similar)
RECOMMENDED — not owned. This is THE defining effect of the tone. Medium speed synced to 8th notes, deep pulsing depth. A Boss TR-2 or Behringer UT300 are affordable alternatives.
02Analog Delay pedal (Boss DD-3 or similar)
RECOMMENDED — not owned. Set for subtle ambience with a single repeat, dotted quarter note feel. Adds space without washing out the notes.
The Frontman 10G is a small solid-state amp with no mid control, no presence, and no reverb — bass and treble only. The original AC30/Eighty-Five tones are pristine cleans with headroom. Set gain very low (2) to stay crystal clean. Your SG's humbuckers are warmer and hotter than Greenwood's Telecaster Lace Sensors, so roll tone to 6 and volume to 8 to reduce output and brighten the attack, compensating for the darker voicing. Treble at 6 adds the shimmer the Tele naturally has. Without a tremolo pedal, you cannot replicate this tone — it is 80% of the sound.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Fender Frontman10G. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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