How to Dial In "What Do You Want from Me" by Pink Floyd - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "What Do You Want from Me"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
The bluesiest thing on The Division Bell and the most straightforwardly aggressive Gilmour tone on the record — a hard shuffle with a gritty riff rather than the long sustained leads the album is otherwise known for. That makes it a useful counterweight to the 'Marooned' and 'Coming Back to Life' settings: bridge pickup, more gain, less space. Standard tuning. Recorded 1993-94 at Astoria with Bob Ezrin. Keep the fuzz working as distortion here rather than as a sustain device, and let the riff punch rather than hang; the vocal is doubled by Sam Brown's backing, so the guitar can sit forward without burying anything.
Common Questions About the "What Do You Want from Me" Tone
What guitar did Pink Floyd use on "What Do You Want from Me"?
Pink Floyd tracked "What Do You Want from Me" on a Stratocaster (released 1994). The Fender David Gilmour Signature Stratocaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "What Do You Want from Me" need?
On Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100: Gain 6.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "What Do You Want from Me" without a Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "What Do You Want from Me" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
What pedals are on "What Do You Want from Me"?
The original signal chain for "What Do You Want from Me" runs through a Big Muff. The Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (NYC) named above is a modern equivalent - it came out after the record. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "What Do You Want from Me" by Pink Floyd are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.