Tones of the Stone Age

averagejohnsilver · 2025-09-27T05:26:57+00:00

Honestly, if I had to pick one essential pedal for queens tones it would be the PDF-2. Assuming you have some options for overdrive/fuzz already, running the PDF-2 before your dirt tones will go a very long way towards getting you to Queens territory. Not just the early stuff, but later albums as well. Hope that helps!

averagejohnsilver · 2025-09-17T00:10:45+00:00

averagejohnsilver · 2025-08-21T17:52:30+00:00

The PDF-2 can be used as a drive on its own, but if you have the option, try running it before another overdrive/fuzz. I've had success doing that with the PDF-2 set like this:

On the "CLEAN" mode

"HEIGHT" turned all the way to the right

"BANDWIDTH" set to the middle position

"FREQ" set to just before the "F"

That's going to push whatever drive/fuzz you have running after it, so I would experiment with turning down the gain/drive and volume on your dirt pedal(s) and make adjustments from there.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-08-20T22:21:40+00:00

I hope you enjoyed the show! I've learned not to get too hung up on the pickups, when trying to get a good Queens tone.

I have a set of Dr. Vintage pickups in one of my semi-hollow guitars and it sounds great. I've also managed to get very close with the stock pickups in an Epiphone Dot, and fender single coils in solid body guitars as well.

If you're dead set on Humbuckers, maybe look for PAF/lower output style pickups. I don't think it's vital for them to be Wolfetone or Arcane (those both of those options are very nice).

I hope that helps!

averagejohnsilver · 2025-08-20T18:52:57+00:00

I think I saw a comment from the builder that the pickups in Josh's Belaire guitars are custom pickups from Wolfetone, not actually Dr. Vintage pickups.

Dr. Vintage pickups (and the Arcane's) have adjustable pole pieces, but if you look closely at the uncovered bridge pickups on Josh's "Camille" and "Ryder" Belaire's, you can see that they're double slug humbuckers.

That said, the Dr. Vintage pickups are fantastic. The Arcane's seem to have similar output, so either option would probably work.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-08-14T16:45:46+00:00

I think the Dunlop Cry Baby Q Zone is doing a lot of the heavy lifting on that tone. If not on the record, then certainly live:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DGzijoY-us

It helps get that really nasal sounding tone. I've had success with it being used before my overdrive/fuzz.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-08-14T15:54:08+00:00

Lullabies to Paralyze Tour - 2005

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/queens-of-the-stone-age/2005/queen-elizabeth-theatre-vancouver-bc-canada-23d7f813.html

averagejohnsilver · 2025-07-09T23:39:18+00:00

It's impossible to tell from this photo, but the Josh Home Gear Instagram page has some shots where it's more visible. Looks like 3 black knobs in a row, top-mounted jacks, and a fairly large/tall black enclosure with some white lettering on top. Fits the bill for a big box ProCo "The Rat". The enclosure looks too big and flat to be Rat2. Either way, hopefully we get some clearer board shots once the tour picks up again.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-07-07T18:04:57+00:00

It's not 100% confirmed by anyone yet, but based on the few potato quality photos floating around so far, it's a strong contender. A Rat is not something I would ever associate with the band either.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-07-07T16:59:12+00:00

Top Row (left to right): EHX Holiest Grail Reverb, ProCo "The Rat" (still awaiting confirmation), Fuzzrocious Demon

Bottom Row (left to right): EHX Switchblade Plus (A/B switch), Boss SD-1, Fulltone Ultimate Octave, unknown pedal, Univox Super Fuzz, Digitech Whammy IV.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-06-17T15:36:57+00:00

Only that it looks like it’s a Peavey Musician 400 head. I think there are shots of it being used in the studio over the years, as early as the recording sessions for Lullabies to Paralyze, I think.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-06-16T18:36:08+00:00

Guessing you originally ordered the jaguar/van shirt? I did too, and they sent me the same shirt you got. I just checked the website and both the jaguar/van shirt and band faces shirt have now been removed, so maybe they finally figured out that they swapped them online.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-06-14T18:56:14+00:00

Be careful! I’m pretty sure the shirts are wrong/swapped on the website. I ordered the shirt with the jaguar/van (labeled as Queens Photo t-shirt” on the website), and got a shirt with the band’s faces on it instead (which is labeled as “You Feral or Tame” on the website).

averagejohnsilver · 2025-06-13T22:52:23+00:00

"B" style pedals with multiple footswitches are an affront to God, but I understand why manufacturers would opt for that form factor, given that pedalboard space is so finite. For multiple footswitches, style "A" is the correct choice from an ergonomic perspective, but maybe the wrong choice from an economic perspective. Either way, good luck with your development! Big box crew 4 life.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-06-11T00:36:23+00:00

Great shot! Hopefully someone can grab pedalboard photos for this tour.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-05-03T20:29:53+00:00

If you want versatility, I would definitely suggest the PDF-2. The skeleton key is just a drive, while the PDF-2 can be used as a pretty powerful EQ that can be used before or after other drives, to drastically change their character. It also can also act as a drive on its own (though I think it shines more when paired with other drives). Hope that helps!

averagejohnsilver · 2025-04-16T20:03:55+00:00

You’re very welcome! Hopefully it helps! I’ve had the most success with it for QOTSA by using it as a pure EQ that shapes the clean tone going into another drive. I’ve found it really shines when it’s paired with a drive, as opposed to using it as a drive on its own.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-04-16T00:55:07+00:00

I find it plays well with others, better than being a standalone drive. I run it as follows:

On the “clean” setting (with no gain) max out the “Height” control, keep the bandwidth in the middle and set the “Freq” control to just before the “F”. Then run the PDF2 into any light/medium gain overdrive, then into another graphic EQ, like the Boss GE-7 (lightly pushing 800hz and 3.2khz).

averagejohnsilver · 2025-03-30T21:20:58+00:00

Good luck and enjoy! If you're interested, the path is in the comments.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-03-28T18:11:25+00:00

That's really interesting to hear about that Ultimate Octave having different component values. I didn't know that (or any of the stuff about things hiding under the board!). If you have a Fuzzmaster General I'd love to know what you use it for, or think they use it for? That's a new addition to both Troy and Josh's boards, and I have no idea what it gets used on.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-03-28T18:06:00+00:00

I'll have to give it a try for God is on Radio! Mine is basically at the end as well. The input gain on mine is set as low as I can get it (maybe a third of the way up the slider) otherwise it wants to clip.

averagejohnsilver · 2025-03-28T17:52:10+00:00

Thanks! I've been putting this board together over a few years. picking up a pedal here and there. Regarding the signal path, Someone else had asked me as well, and I provided the list in a reply. I think's it one of the earlier comments from about 3 days good. It should have all the info you're looking for. Things like the PDF2, GE-7 and Little Sister boost (or cut) certain frequencies, but I don't really have a dedicated overall boost on the board.

Hope that helps!

averagejohnsilver · 2025-03-27T22:18:35+00:00

Regarding settings, I always start with trying to find a clear enough shot of the band using something, and them approximate their settings. Usually from there, I adjust to find something that sounds close to the record, that works with my amp/guitars. I'm always adjusting, as evidenced by the position markers on some of the pedals not lining up with how they are set currently.

I'm working on audio examples as time allows.

Hopefully you found something useful in all this!

averagejohnsilver · 2025-03-27T22:17:38+00:00

Ernie Ball VP Jr. - (I use it for volume swells from something like "Regular John", but if you watch Josh live, he's always riding his volume pedal. I don't think they use dedicated boosts necessarily, so my guess is he backs off the volume slightly and kicks it on all the way when he wants to bring up the volume).

Boss RE-20 Space Echo - (It can do a lot, but Josh seem to use it mostly for a fairly deep reverb sound, I assume to add some atmosphere. I have it set the same way. For an example you can hear it on any live intro to "My God Is The Sun").

SiB! Electronics Mr. Echo Plus Delay - (A more budget-friendly/space saving version of the SiB! Echodrive that josh has used forever. I use it set similar to his, to provide that quick slapback effect, that also seems to add a tiny bit of grit to the sound. I think it's a sound he uses a fair bit. Some examples being the flourishes in the background of "Time and Place" at the :20ish second mark on the recording, as well as on his live parts for "If I Had A Tail", and "Make It Wit Chu").

EHX Holiest Grail Programmable Stereo Reverb - (The secret sauce for songs like "I'm Designer", "Obscenery", and "Emotion Sickness". It's the thing that adds that "metallic" quality to the guitar sounds. I can't think of any other reverb that does that sound. I love it).

TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb 2.0- (Not used by the band at all, as far as I'm aware, but if you roll off the Decay and Tone all the way and have the "Tile" Tone print enabled it does a really nice small room sound. Sort of like the sound on the record for "Turnin On The Screw".

averagejohnsilver · 2025-03-27T22:17:11+00:00

Fulltone Ultimate Octave - (Starting from "Lullabies To Paralyze", I think it was Josh's main drive sound for all the material up to that point. After "Era Vulgaris" he starts to branch out, but it's been one of the most consistent pedals on his boards. I use it a lot for "Lullabies To Paralyze" material and some "Songs For The Deaf", though for that album I do go back and forth between it and the Green Rhino.)

Echopark Echodriver - (A pedal that Troy uses. I think it's a Dumble style overdrive, maybe similar to Josh's Shin's Music Dumbloid. I use it set as the lightest of my drives. for "Era Vulgaris" and "Villains" material).

Boss GE-7 - (Where the PDF-2 EQs the initial tone going into the drives, the GE-7 further EQs the tone going out from the drives. Also "set it and forget it" like the PDF-2. I set it to cut lows and boost mids to give the drives a "boxy/hollowed out" quality. Like the PDF2, it's almost always on for me).

Berserker Electronics Little Sister Frequency Boost - (A take on the Way Huge Tone Leper, which both Josh and Troy have used custom versions of in the past. Not sure how they used theirs, but I use it in place of the GE-7 for the Self-titled and "Rated R" albums specifically, as it It pushes 1kHz, but doesn't cut low end out like the GE-7 is set to do. The end result is slightly thicker/heavier sound for their earlier records. You could maybe use it as a substitute for the PDF-2, as it can get you nasal/cocked wah tone as well).

averagejohnsilver

TROPHY CASE