What guitar did Josh Homme use on sick sick sick?

Josh Homme used his signature Yamaha SG guitar on this track. The SG series has been a staple in his setup for years, providing the thick sustain and humbucker tone that defines much of QOTSA's sound.

How to get Josh Homme's tone on sick sick sick?

The key elements are a humbucker-equipped guitar (like a Yamaha SG), a cranked tube amp with midrange bite, and an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi for fuzz. The combination creates that signature raw, aggressive tone with fuzzy sustain.

What amp did Queens of the Stone Age use on Era Vulgaris?

On 'sick, sick, sick' specifically, Josh Homme used an Ampeg VT-40 tube amplifier. This vintage amp contributes to the gritty, powerful character heard on the track.

What Big Muff did Josh Homme use?

Josh Homme used an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi on this recording. The Big Muff is essential to his signature fuzz tone, providing the sustain and harmonic distortion that cuts through the mix.

Where was Queens of the Stone Age Era Vulgaris recorded?

The album was recorded at the legendary Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California. The sessions were produced by Chris Goss and engineered by Joe Barresi, both long-time collaborators with the band.

rhythm guitar from "sick, sick, sick" by queens of the stone age

sick, sick, sick

queens of the stone age

rhythm guitar

85% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A raw and aggressive rhythm guitar tone with a fuzzy edge and a slightly scooped midrange, perfect for driving hard rock riffs. It has a gritty and powerful character with plenty of harmonic distortion.

Shop This Rig

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Yamaha SG(instrument)
Ampeg VT-40(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi(processing)

The Story

Josh Homme recorded this track using his signature Yamaha SG guitar through an Ampeg VT-40 tube amp, with an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi providing the characteristic fuzz. The session took place at Sound City Studios with producer Chris Goss and engineer Joe Barresi, capturing the raw energy with an SM57 microphone positioned close to the amp speaker.

Production Credits

Producer: Chris Goss

Engineer: Joe Barresi

Recorded at: Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA

Signal Chain

Instrument: Yamaha SGShop on Reverb

Amp: Ampeg VT-40Shop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Processing: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff PiShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Yamaha SG or similar humbucker-equipped guitar.
Use an Ampeg VT-40 or similar vintage tube amp for a gritty and powerful foundation.
Add an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi for the signature fuzz tone.
Experiment with amp and pedal settings to find the right balance of gain and sustain.
Record with a Shure SM57 close to the amp speaker to capture the raw energy of the performance.

Original Gear

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Yamaha SGShop on Reverb(guitar)
Ampeg VT-40Shop on Reverb(amp)
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff PiShop on Reverb(pedal)
Shure SM57Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Yamaha Revstar RSP20CRShop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Yamaha SG guitar

Modern Yamaha with dual humbuckers that captures the thick sustain and midrange character of vintage SG models

Orange Rocker 32Shop on Reverb$800-$900

Alternative to: Ampeg VT-40 amp

30-watt tube combo with similar gritty character and powerful midrange crunch as the vintage Ampeg

Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp Big MuffShop on Reverb$80-$100

Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi

Modern reissue of the specific Big Muff variant that provides the scooped, fuzzy sustain heard on this track

Neural DSP Archetype NollyPlugin Boutique$100-$120

Alternative to: Ampeg VT-40 amp

Digital amp sim with tube saturation models that can replicate the aggressive, crunchy character of vintage tube amps

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57 microphone

The exact same microphone model used on the original recording, still manufactured and industry standard for guitar amps

Sources

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rhythm guitar from “sick, sick, sick” by queens of the stone age | ToneDB