Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd (Riff · Clean) — Guitar Tone

The Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd guitar tone is built on a Unknown, dialed in at gain 3/10, bass 6, mid 6, treble 6.5, presence 5.5 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

Amp settings (0–10)

Community-researched baseline. Your rig is different — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials every knob for your specific guitar, amp and pickups.

How these settings compare

Measured against the 540 rock tones in our researched catalog: Gain 3 sits below the rock average (4.8) — cleaner and more dynamic than typical rock; mids at 6 are right around average (6.2).

Guitar controls

Original gear

Guitar: Ovation Custom Legend 1619-4 (acoustic, Nashville tuning) · Amp: Unknown (likely direct or through studio preamp, no evidence of electric amp for riff)

Studio recording, 1979. The main riff/verse rhythm is played on an Ovation Custom Legend 1619-4 acoustic in Nashville tuning, not electric. Electric guitar (Fender Stratocaster) is only used for solos and fills. No evidence of amp or pedal use for the acoustic rhythm track.

Gear used on this tone

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Pickups

Piezo pickup (Ovation acoustic)

Signal chain

Ovation Custom Legend 1619-4 (acoustic, Nashville tuning) → Unknown (likely direct or through studio preamp, no evidence of electric amp for riff)

Effects

reverb

Amp effects: Reverb (plate, level 3)

Tone character

clean and bright, shimmery top end, articulate and clear, rich harmonic content, open and airy, slightly compressed, no audible distortion, natural acoustic resonance, crisp attack, balanced frequency response

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, slow tempo, medium dynamics · clean distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Comfortably Numb sound.

Difficulty

2/5 · Riff

The riff is technically straightforward but requires accurate strumming and familiarity with Nashville tuning, which may be unfamiliar to many players.

Worth knowing

• No numeric amp settings found for the acoustic rhythm track; settings estimated based on typical studio acoustic recording practices.
• No evidence of electric guitar, amp, or pedals used for the main riff/rhythm section—electric gear is only used for solos and fills.
• If you are seeking the electric solo tone, refer to sources for the Stratocaster/Hiwatt setup; this profile is for the acoustic riff section only.
• Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. David Gilmour's 'Comfortably Numb' riff tone is classic edge-of-breakup with a smooth, singing sustain, achieved using a Hiwatt amp, Big Muff, and Strat. The tone is mid-forward, warm, and slightly ambient, with moderate gain, boosted mids, and balanced bass/treble, matching both the era's production and Gilmour's preferences.

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Sources

• David Gilmour's guitar tone on Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb: how he got his sound | Guitar World

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