Dammit Amp Settings

Original Gear

Guitar

1994 40th Anniversary American Standard Fender Stratocaster ('Sticker Strat', Olympic White, covered in stickers)

Pickups

DiMarzio X2N (DP102) in bridge position. Confirmed by DeLonge (HomeRecording.com): 'The first humbucker I got into was the DiMarzio X2N. I used it mostly through Dude Ranch.' The X2N was NOT replaced with the Seymour Duncan Invader until Fall 1997, AFTER Dude Ranch was recorded. (Bridge only (DiMarzio X2N))

Amplifier

Marshall JCM900 4100 (100W, 2-channel) + Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier (dual-amp setup blended in mix)

Channel

Marshall: Clean channel with gain cranked. Mesa: Dirty channel.

Tuning

Standard E (E-A-D-G-B-E)

Pickup Selector

Bridge position exclusively. This preference led to his later signature models featuring only a single bridge humbucker.

Strings

Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom 10-52

DeLonge (MusicRadar 2012): 'That was when we started getting into Marshall JCM900 amps.' Also confirmed in Ernie Ball 'Pursuit of Tone' documentary: used Strat + Mesa Boogie on Dude Ranch. DeLonge: 'What I do is put the JCM900 on its clean channel and turn the gain up to 10.' Marshall cabs with Celestion Greenbacks + Mesa cabs with V-30s. Produced by Mark Trombino at Big Fish Studios, Encinitas, CA.

Amp Settings

Playing Technique

Fast, aggressive all-downstroke picking — signature Blink-182 technique, especially on verse riffs at 215 BPM. Heavy palm muting in verses for percussive, chugging quality. 2-3 note power chords with open strings incorporated for ringing brightness. Volume knob maxed at 10 on guitar. Dunlop Tortex Standard 0.60mm (orange) picks — relatively thin for speed. Guitar volume always at full.