Song Rig

Too Many Humans

Buckethead · Bucketheadland · 1992

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

An early Buckethead showcase combining funk-influenced rhythm playing with extreme picking technique within the same track — a wide stylistic range in less than four minutes. The tone is heavily distorted but retains note articulation through careful EQ and the Les Paul's natural warmth.

Signal Chain

1Gibson Les Paul Custom
2Gibson Lab Series (high gain)
3Funky rhythm section accompaniment

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume9

Bass7

Mid6

Treble7

Presence8

Full distortion for the technical sections, with rhythm passages using the same setting but more muted, percussive picking. The Lab Series amp produces a specific compressed, warm high-gain tone unlike a Marshall or Mesa.

Technique

How to Play It

Funk rhythm combined with technical lead passages — Too Many Humans shows Buckethead's Michael Jackson and funk influences alongside the shred technique, demonstrating his range from rhythmic groove to extreme picking within a single performance.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Les Paul → Gibson Lab Series or Mesa Boogie → practice combining muted funk rhythm strumming with fast picking runs: the transition between the two modes requires independent right-hand control of pick attack force and muting pressure.

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