Pink Floyd Guitar Tone Guide — David Gilmour's Complete Rig
Pink Floyd's guitar sound is one of the most distinctive and most sought-after tones in rock history. What makes it exceptional is its apparent simplicity — Stratocaster, Big Muff, Hiwatt — combined with the extraordinary difficulty of replicating it. Gilmour's tone is as much technique and setting as equipment.
The Core Rig
Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (1963, "The Black Strat" / "Guitars 0001")
Amp: Hiwatt DR103 100W
Drive: Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff Pi
Delay: Binson Echorec (vintage) or Boss DD-2 (later)
Modulation: Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress
Compression: Boss CS-2
Chorus: Boss CE-2
Era-by-Era Guide
Syd Barrett Era (Piper at the Gates of Dawn, 1967)
Gilmour was not in the band. Syd Barrett used a Fender Esquire or Telecaster through a variety of amplifiers with echo units. The tone is rawer, more psychedelic.
Gilmour Joins (A Saucerful of Secrets, 1968)
Gilmour brings the Stratocaster and Marshall/Hiwatt approach. This is the transition period.
Meddle (1971)
"One of These Days": Early Big Muff (triangle circuit) through Hiwatt. Bass-heavy drone tone.
"Echoes": Stratocaster through Echorec delay with long decay — the "sonar ping" intro is Stratocaster + Echorec, quarter note delay.
Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
"Money" (guitar solo): Big Muff through Hiwatt. The most commercially heard Gilmour tone. Settings: Big Muff Sustain 7, Tone 12 o'clock, Volume unity. Hiwatt Volume 7, Treble 7, Bass 5.
"Time" (guitar solos): Echorec delay synced to 8th note rhythm. Big Muff for sustain on the expressive lead passages.
"Any Colour You Like": Electric Mistress flanger + CE-2 chorus for the swirling texture.
Wish You Were Here (1975)
"Wish You Were Here" (acoustic): 12-string acoustic Ovation with capo. Not through any amp — direct acoustic.
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond": The definitive Gilmour slow-bend signature. Settings:
- Guitar: Neck pickup, Volume 10, Tone 8
- Boss CS-2: Sustain 9 o'clock (gentle)
- Big Muff (Ram's Head): Sustain 7, Tone 11 o'clock (slightly warm)
- Binson Echorec: 350ms, 2–3 repeats
- Hiwatt DR103: Volume 7, Treble 7, Bass 5
Animals (1977)
"Dogs": Extended guitar solos with Electric Mistress in Filter Matrix mode. Pete Cornish pedalboard integration.
The Wall (1979)
"Comfortably Numb" (first solo):
Guitar → Big Muff (Sustain 7–8, Tone 12 o'clock) → Hiwatt DR103 (Volume 7, Treble 7, Bass 5)
No delay on the first solo — extremely clean sustain.
"Comfortably Numb" (second solo):
Same chain with Echorec delay added, dotted eighth note timing.
This is the most-attempted Gilmour tone. The note choice is as important as the gear.
"Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2" (rhythm):
Clean Strat through Hiwatt. No Big Muff. Guitar Volume 7, Tone 7.
The Final Cut (1983)
Minimal guitar. Gilmour contributed but the album is more orchestral. Less guitar documentation required.
A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
"Learning to Fly": CE-2 chorus (Rate 9 o'clock, Depth 9 o'clock) through clean Hiwatt. Distinctive shimmer.
PULSE (1994 Tour)
Gilmour's most fully documented live rig. Pete Cornish pedalboard contains:
- Sovtek Big Muff (replaces Ram's Head)
- Boss CS-2
- Electric Mistress (newer version)
- Boss CE-2
- Boss DD-2
Settings confirmed from this era (transcribed from tech interviews):
Sovtek Big Muff: Sustain 6, Tone 11 o'clock, Volume unity
Hiwatt DR103: Volume 7, Normal channel, Treble 7, Bass 5, Presence 4–5
On an Island (2006–Solo Career)
TC Electronic rack units for delays. Eventide for specific harmonizer effects. Mesa/Boogie in some contexts. Hiwatt DR103 remains primary.
Specific Tone Recipes
"Comfortably Numb" Lead Solo
- Fender Stratocaster, neck pickup, Volume 10, Tone 8
- Boss CS-2: Sustain 9 o'clock, Level unity
- EHX Ram's Head Big Muff: Sustain 7–8, Tone 12 o'clock, Volume matched to unity
- Binson Echorec or Boss DD-2: 330ms (dotted quarter note at 63 BPM), 2–3 repeats, Level -6dB
- Hiwatt DR103: Volume 7, Treble 7, Middle 5, Bass 5, Presence 4
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" Bends
- Stratocaster neck pickup
- CS-2 gentle compression
- Big Muff (Sustain 7, Tone slightly warm)
- Echorec at 350ms
- Hiwatt at 7
Clean Gilmour ("Wish You Were Here" Acoustic Strum Tone)
- Stratocaster, neck/middle (position 4)
- CE-2 chorus: Rate 9 o'clock, Depth 9 o'clock
- Clean Hiwatt: Volume 6, Treble 7, Bass 5
On Modellers
Line 6 Helix
Amp: Hiwatt DR103 model (Hi Watt 100)
Drive 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 4.5, Treble 7, Presence 5, Volume 7
Fuzz: EHX Ram's Head model (Big Muff Pi) — Sustain 60%, Tone 50%
Delay: Simple delay at 330ms, 2–3 repeats
Modulation: CE-2 model for clean chorus passages
Fractal Axe-FX III
Amp: Hiwatt Dr. 103
Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 4, Treble 7, Presence 5, Master 7
Drive: "Ram's Head" fuzz block
Delay: Multitap delay at dotted quarter note value
Budget Setup for Gilmour Tone
| Component | Budget option | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar | Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster | ~$450 |
| Drive | EHX Big Muff Pi (current production) | ~$80 |
| Chorus | Boss CE-5 | ~$80 |
| Delay | Boss DD-8 | ~$130 |
| Amp | Fender Blues Junior | ~$500 |
| Total | ~$1,240 |
FAQ
Q: What Big Muff version is correct for Gilmour?
A: Ram's Head for 1973–1978 (Dark Side, Animals period). Sovtek for the 1994 PULSE era. Current EHX Big Muff Pi approximates the Ram's Head better than the Triangle or Op-Amp versions.
Q: What is the Binson Echorec?
A: A vintage Italian magnetic-drum delay unit. Uses a rotating magnetic drum rather than tape. Multi-tap capability creates complex overlapping delays. Used by Gilmour from the late 1960s through the 1980s.
Q: Why is the Hiwatt so important?
A: Extremely clean headroom — the Big Muff runs into a completely uncoloured amp foundation. If the amp saturates independently of the Big Muff, the interaction becomes muddy.
Q: What note is the "Comfortably Numb" solo played in?
A: The key of B minor over a D major chord — the signature bending tension comes from the minor pentatonic over a major chord, creating a suspended quality.