Get this tone on your rig
Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Brad Delson tracks the verses on a PRS Custom 24 using the bridge humbucker and a rolled‑back volume to let the clean arpeggio sit under the synth pad. For the choruses the same guitar runs through a Big Muff Pi before a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, delivering a thick, sustained fuzz that drives the song's power sections. The part is recorded in Drop D, and the guitar sits prominently in the mix, layered with double‑tracked takes panned left and right for a wide wall of sound.
Tuning Drop D (D A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
PRS Custom 24 (2003)
Guitar
Brad Delson recorded 'Numb' using a PRS Custom 24 with the bridge humbucker, tuned to Drop D, providing the core clean arpeggios and the heavy rhythm tones.
Electro‑Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Pedal
A Big Muff Pi was placed in front of the amp to give the thick, saturated fuzz heard especially in the choruses.
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Amplifier
Alternatives
PRS SE Custom 24
Modern equivalent · for the PRS Custom 24 (2003)
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (reissue)
Modern equivalent · for the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Electro‑Harmonix Big Muff Pi (reissue)
Still made · for the Electro‑Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Tune the guitar to Drop D (D A D G B E).
- 2.Select the bridge humbucker for the full‑bodied tone.
- 3.Roll back the guitar volume for clean arpeggios in the verses.
- 4.Engage a Big Muff (or similar fuzz) and crank the amp gain for the choruses.
- 5.Keep bass and mids around mid‑range to avoid mud.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Numb guitar tone?
The available research points to PRS Custom 24 (2003) into Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Numb amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Numb in?
The current research record lists Drop D (D A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Numb tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
