Punk2003blink-182
Always Amp Settings
by blink-182
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Original Recording Settings
EstimatedResearched tone data for "Always" by blink-182
Original Gear
- Guitar
- Gibson Tom DeLonge Signature ES-333
- Pickups
- Gibson Dirty Fingers bridge humbucker (bridge)
- Amplifier
- Marshall JCM900 blended with Mesa/Boogie high-gain platform (estimated self-titled-era core rig)
- Channel
- Marshall clean/edge channel with added modulation and delay for the riff
- Tuning
- standard
- Pickup Selector
- bridge
- Strings
- 0.010-0.046 (estimated)
Estimated from Tom DeLonge's documented JCM900 foundation, his shift toward extensive clean/modulated textures on the 2001-2003 records, and the more experimental pedal-heavy direction described for the 2003 self-titled album.
Amp Settings
Gain
4.0
Bass
4.0
Mid
5.0
Treble
6.0
Presence
5.0
Master Volume
6.0
Volume
6.0
No track-specific Always rig sheet was located. Settings are estimated from DeLonge's documented Marshall-based clean foundation, his 2003 move into cleaner textures and pedals, and the ES-333's bright bridge-humbucker voice.
Effects Chain
→
Chorus pedal (subtle)
chorus
→
Flanger (subtle)
flanger
→
→Digital delay
delay
1.Chorus pedal (subtle) — DeLonge explicitly linked this era with clean tones using chorus pedals.
2.Flanger (subtle) — Included because DeLonge explicitly cites flangers as part of his cleaner textural shift across the 2001-2003 period.
3.Digital delay — Used lightly to widen the clean riff without clouding the attack.
Playing Technique
Keep the riff tight and even, with clean fretting and minimal string noise so the modulation stays glossy instead of messy. Pick firmly enough for rhythmic clarity, but do not dig in so hard that the bridge pickup gets spiky.
Sources+
- MusicRadar (2022) - Tom DeLonge on blink-182's evolution; cites JCM900 roots, the move into clean tones, and use of chorus, flangers, and delays across the 2001-2003 era.
- Wikipedia - Tom DeLonge / Gibson ES-333 release context in 2003.
- Wikipedia - blink-182 (2003 album) metadata and recording-era context.
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