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lead guitar from “have a cigar” by pink floyd | ToneDB

have a cigar

pink floyd

lead guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

The lead guitar tone is characterized by a biting, sustained fuzz with a hint of rotary speaker modulation, creating a searing and slightly psychedelic sound.

Gear

Fender Stratocasterinstrument
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Hiwatt DR103amp
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Neumann U67microphone
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Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Faceprocessing
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Univox Uni-Vibeprocessing
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The Story

David Gilmour's lead guitar tone on "Have a Cigar" was achieved using a Fender Stratocaster through a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face into a Hiwatt DR103 amplifier, recorded at Abbey Road Studios with engineer Brian Humphries. The Hiwatt's clean, high-headroom platform allowed the Fuzz Face to provide the core fuzz saturation, while a Univox Uni-Vibe added the characteristic swirling modulation. The signal was captured with a Neumann U67 microphone, and Gilmour likely blended the miked amp signal with some direct input for added clarity.

Production Credits

Producer: Pink Floyd

Engineer: Brian Humphries

Recorded at: Abbey Road Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Stratocaster

Amp: Hiwatt DR103

Microphone: Neumann U67

Processing: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face, Univox Uni-Vibe

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Stratocaster-style guitar and a clean amp setting.
  • Use a Fuzz Face-style fuzz pedal with the gain set high for maximum sustain and bite.
  • Add a Uni-Vibe or chorus/vibrato pedal for modulation, but keep the effect subtle.
  • Experiment with microphone placement to capture the amp's full character, or blend with a direct signal.

Original Gear

  • Fender Stratocaster(guitar)
  • Hiwatt DR103(amp)
  • Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face(pedal)
  • Univox Uni-Vibe(pedal)
  • Neumann U67(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini Silicon$100-$130

Alternative to: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face

Faithful recreation of the original silicon Fuzz Face circuit that provides the same biting sustain and fuzz character essential to this tone

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TC Electronic Viscous Vibe$120-$150

Alternative to: Univox Uni-Vibe

Accurately recreates the Uni-Vibe's photocell-based modulation that gives the swirling, phase-like texture heard on the lead parts

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Boss Katana 100 MkII$350-$400

Alternative to: Hiwatt DR103

Provides clean headroom and transparency needed to let fuzz pedals shine through, similar to the Hiwatt's role as a clean platform

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Neural DSP Archetype Plini$120-$140

Alternative to: Complete signal chain

Includes accurate Fuzz Face and Uni-Vibe models plus clean amp simulation that can recreate this entire signal chain in the box

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Analogman Sun Face$200-$250

Alternative to: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face

Hand-built boutique version using vintage-spec components that delivers the same aggressive fuzz sustain with improved reliability

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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