Comfortably Numb

The recording

Comfortably Numb was recorded in 1979 during the Wall sessions, with Gilmour laying down his iconic solos in a single take that relied on his playing dynamics and sustained phrasing. The solos were tracked through a clean, high‑gain setup and later blended with a rotating speaker effect and a powerful 4×12 cabinet to sit prominently in the mix, while a post‑production delay was added to give the lead its signature depth.

Tuning E standard

Reported gear

1969 Fender Stratocaster ('Black Strat')

Guitar

Gilmour used his black 1969 Fender Stratocaster, equipped with a DiMarzio FS-1 bridge pickup, for the iconic lead lines on Comfortably Numb.

MXR Dyna Comp

Compressor

A MXR Dyna Comp was placed first in the chain, providing a smooth sustain boost that helped Gilmour hold the long, vocal‑like notes of the solos.

Electro‑Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Ram's Head)

Fuzz

He drove the signal into a Ram's Head Electro‑Harmonix Big Muff Pi, whose thick, creamy fuzz gave the solo its characteristic singing sustain.

Alembic F-2B Preamp

Preamp

an Alembic F‑2B preamp was inserted after the fuzz to add tonal shaping and extra headroom before the HiWatt.

HiWatt DR103 100‑watt Head

Amp

The fuzz‑shaped signal was then amplified by a custom‑wired HiWatt DR103 100‑watt head, delivering a clean, high‑gain platform that preserved the Big Muff’s texture.

Yamaha RA-200 Rotating Speaker

Rotary speaker

The amp head fed a Yamaha RA‑200 rotating speaker, whose swirling rotary effect added a subtle modulation to the lead tone.

WEM Super Starfinder 4×12 Cabinet

Cabinet

Parallel to the rotary speaker, the signal also ran into a WEM Super Starfinder 4×12 cabinet with Fane Crescendo speakers, providing the powerful, mid‑range punch heard in the mix.

Alternatives

Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster

Modern equivalent · for the 1969 Fender Stratocaster ('Black Strat')

$450 to $600

HiWatt Custom 100 (DR103 style reissue)

Reissue · for the HiWatt DR103 100‑watt Head

$1,500 to $2,000

MXR Dyna Comp (reissue)

Still made · for the MXR Dyna Comp

$150 to $200

Yamaha ToneLab Rotating Speaker (modern replica)

Reissue · for the Yamaha RA-200 Rotating Speaker

$300 to $400

Electro‑Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Ram's Head Reissue)

Reissue · for the Electro‑Harmonix Big Muff Pi (Ram's Head)

$180 to $250

WEM Super Starfire 4×12 (still made)

Still made · for the WEM Super Starfinder 4×12 Cabinet

$900 to $1,200

Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI

Budget alternative · for the Alembic F-2B Preamp

$200 to $300

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Use a light pick attack and let the Big Muff sustain carry the note
2. 2.Set the MXR Dyna Comp attack fast and sustain high to lengthen the note
3. 3.Play the solo on the bridge pickup with the Strat’s tone knob rolled back slightly
4. 4.Employ a slow, even vibrato and let the notes sing into the rotary speaker
5. 5.Add a subtle delay in post‑mix for depth