DigiTech Whammy

The riff that conquered the world, played on a cheap Kay hollowbody through a DigiTech Whammy set to octave down, into a cranked Silvertone amp. The Whammy pedal makes the guitar sound like a bass on the iconic main riff, while the Silvertone's raw, lo-fi tube distortion adds grit and character. Jack White's entire approach is built on cheap, broken-sounding gear pushed to its limits — the imperfections ARE the tone.

Tom Morello's approach to guitar is unlike anyone else: he uses a simple rig — Les Paul, Marshall JCM800, Whammy pedal, and wah — but manipulates them in unconventional ways to create sounds that resemble turntables, synthesizers, and samples. On Killing in the Name, the core rhythm tone is a Les Paul through a cranked JCM800 for aggressive, tight palm-muted riffs. The Whammy and wah are used for the song's iconic solos and DJ-like scratching effects.

Plug In Baby features Matt Bellamy's signature combination of heavy fuzz and a DigiTech Whammy for the iconic riff. The Manson guitar runs through a fuzz pedal into a cranked Marshall for a thick, aggressive distortion, while the Whammy adds an octave-up effect that gives the riff its distinctive screaming, synth-like quality. The riff itself is a rapid-fire chromatic run that is instantly recognizable.