How to Dial In "Obscenery" by Queens of the Stone Age - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Obscenery"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From In Times New Roman... (2023). A Josh Homme riff with gritty, mid-forward overdrive. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Gibson ES-335 through an Ampeg VT-40 stands in. Use the neck and bridge pickups together and set the amp to a driven classic-rock sound. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Obscenery" Tone
What guitar did Queens of the Stone Age use on "Obscenery"?
The guitar on "Obscenery" (released 2023) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-335 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Obscenery" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6. 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 "Obscenery" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Obscenery" 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.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Obscenery" by Queens of the Stone Age are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.