My Iron Lung amp settings — Fender Blues Junior IV
The Radiohead guitar tone for “My Iron Lung”, dialed in for a Fender Blues Junior IV with a Fender American Ultra Telecaster. Studio version, My Iron Lung EP / The Bends (1994) - iconic heavy distorted sections
Fender Telecaster Plus with Lace Sensor Red-Red Dually (bridge), Marshall Shredmaster (Gain: 9, Bass: 8, Contour: 0, Treble: 8, Volume: 6), Fender Eighty-Five solid-state combo cranked (Gain: 10, Mid Boost: On)
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 10 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 4 |
| Treble | 6 |
| Reverb | 0 |
| Master | 4 |
01Marshall Shredmaster (or clone: Joyo High Gain Distortion JF-04)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This pedal is essential to reach the original's aggressive solid-state distortion character. The amp alone cannot achieve this tone.
The original tone came from a Marshall Shredmaster into a cranked solid-state Fender Eighty-Five — the lack of tube compression gave it that immediate, percussive slam. Your Blues Junior is a tube amp with natural sag and compression, which softens attack. Without the Shredmaster, you cannot reach this tone — the Blues Junior's breakup is warm and bluesy, not aggressive and scooped. With the recommended pedal, keep the amp relatively clean (FAT switch for body, gain at 10 for slight edge, master low) and let the Shredmaster do all the heavy lifting. Reverb must be OFF — the original is bone dry.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Fender Blues Junior IV. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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