Classic Rock1975Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here (intro transition tone) Amp Settings

by Pink Floyd

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Original Recording Settings

partially-sourcedResearched tone data for "Wish You Were Here (intro transition tone)" by Pink Floyd

Original Gear

Guitar: 1971 Martin D12-28 (12-string, ‘radio’ intro) + 1969 Martin D-35 (full-fidelity acoustic lead lines)
Pickups: Acoustic guitars recorded via microphones and/or studio routing (no magnetic pickup positions applicable) (all)
Amplifier: No traditional guitar amp (acoustic recorded through studio mic/desk path; intro includes car-radio playback/processing)
Channel: Direct studio path (acoustic capture)
Tuning: standard (acoustic), with an AM/car-radio-style filtering/re-amp effect on the intro before the full-range guitar comes in
Pickup Selector: bridge
Strings: Unknown

The intro’s ‘radio’ illusion is described as being recorded from Gilmour’s car radio, with a 12-string part processed to sound like it’s coming through AM radio before the fuller guitar enters.

Amp Settings

Gain

3.0

Bass

5.0

Mid

5.0

Treble

5.0

Volume

4.0

Because this is primarily an acoustic/console recording path rather than a guitar amp, numeric ‘amp settings’ are placeholders to indicate a conservative gain structure. No documented knob settings exist in sources consulted.

Effects Chain

→

Car-radio re-amp + band-pass EQ filtering (studio effect)

eq/filter

→

Room/plate ambience (studio mix processing; inferred)

reverb

→

1.Car-radio re-amp + band-pass EQ filtering (studio effect) — The intro is explicitly described as coming from a car radio with AM-style filtering before the full-range guitar enters.

2.Room/plate ambience (studio mix processing; inferred) — Natural room/plate ambience is consistent with the recording; exact unit not documented in sources consulted.

Playing Technique

Delicate, even acoustic picking/strumming with controlled dynamics; keep tempo steady and let chord tones ring. The ‘radio’ part should be performed cleanly and simply so filtering can sell the illusion; the full-fidelity guitar should widen dynamics slightly without becoming percussive.

Sources+

Wikipedia, "Wish You Were Here" (song) (describes car radio recording and 12-string processed to sound like AM radio)
Christie’s (lot description), "DAVID GILMOUR: A MARTIN D-35 USED TO RECORD PINK FLOYD'S 'WISH YOU WERE HERE'" (supports D-35 association with the recording)
Gilmourish.com (Wish You Were Here 1975 gear guide; lists Martin D12-28 and Martin D-35 as session acoustics; used as supporting research)