Real AmpTuning: DBDGBEPickup: NeckAlternative RockCrunchAmbient

Hail to the Thief Hollow-Body Feedback — XXL Grind

Radiohead — There There
N

ndever

Jul 14, 2026

Yorke's central tone is unusually simple and well documented: a hollow Gibson ES-125T in DBDGBE tuning, through a Tech 21 XXL distortion and a loud, relatively clean Vox AC30. The hollow body resonates strongly in front of the amplifier, allowing Yorke to turn sustained notes into controlled feedback. Exact knob positions were not published and are approximated below. Source: The King of Gear's There There tone analysis.

Signal Chain

Vintage Gibson ES-125T→Tech 21 XXL→Vox AC30→Vox AC30 2x12→Natural Hollow-Body Feedback→Output
GuitarVintage Gibson ES-125T
Tone
8
PickupNeck
TuningDBDGBE
Volume
10
PedalTech 21 XXL
Tone
5
Warp6
Drive
6
Level
7
AmpVox AC30
Cut5
Bass
5
Gain
3.5
Master
7.5
Treble
6
Cab / IRVox AC30 2x12
MicClose dynamic plus room microphone
Mic PositionClose mic off-axis; room mic positioned to capture feedback
EffectNatural Hollow-Body Feedback
Amount7
OrientationTurn guitar toward speaker for sustain
Player Distance1–2 metres from amplifier

Notes

Stand close enough to the amplifier for the hollow body to resonate, but control unwanted squeals with the guitar volume. Much of the sustain comes from physical feedback rather than extreme pedal gain.

Don't have this gear?

See the same signal chain mapped to another platform. Knob values carry over as starting points — gain ranges differ between platforms.

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