21st Century (Digital Boy)

The recording

Recorded for the 1994 album *Stranger Than Fiction* (and issued as a single in early 1995) with Brett Gurewitz and Greg Hetson on dual electric guitars. Engineered and mixed by Andy Wallace at Westbeach Recorders, the track features a tight high‑gain punk tone, bridge‑pickup driven riffs and a soaring lead line that sits prominently in the mix.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

1974 Gibson SG Standard

Guitar

Brett Gurewitz used a 1974 Gibson SG Standard on the *Stranger Than Fiction* sessions, delivering the thick, mid‑range crunch heard on the track.

Boss DS‑1 Distortion

Distortion

The DS‑1 was the primary distortion pedal for both guitarists, shaping the aggressive yet articulate tone heard on the rhythm parts.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (1993)

Amp

The Dual Rectifier supplied the high‑gain tone that drives the aggressive rhythm and lead parts on *21st Century (Digital Boy)*.

4×12 Celestion V30 Cabinet

Cabinet

A 4×12 cabinet loaded with Celestion V30 speakers gave the tight low‑end and articulate high‑frequency response heard on the track.

Alternatives

Epiphone SG Standard

Modern equivalent · for the 1974 Gibson SG Standard

$300 to $400

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Modern equivalent · for the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (1993)

$2,000 to $2,800

Boss DS‑1 Distortion

Still made · for the Boss DS‑1 Distortion

$100 to $150

4×12 Celestion V30 Cabinet

Modern equivalent · for the 4×12 Celestion V30 Cabinet

$800 to $1,200

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Use down‑stroked power chords on the low E and A strings for the verse rhythm.
2. 2.Alternate‑pick the open E string for the opening chug pattern.
3. 3.Select the bridge pickup and keep the distortion moderate to retain clarity.
4. 4.Apply slight palm‑muting on the verse chords to tighten the attack.
5. 5.When soloing, use fast legato runs and occasional string bends on the high E.