What guitar did Josh Homme use on No One Knows?

Josh Homme used an Ovation Ultra GP guitar for the rhythm parts on "No One Knows". This semi-hollow body guitar contributed to the distinctive resonant character of the tone.

How to get Josh Homme's tone on No One Knows?

Use a semi-hollow or solid body guitar with a tube amp that has good clean headroom, add a fuzz or octave pedal like the Fulltone Ultimate Octave, and blend a direct input signal with a miked amplifier. The key is the combination of direct and amp signals.

What amp did Queens of the Stone Age use on No One Knows?

The rhythm guitar on "No One Knows" was recorded through an Ampeg VT-40 amplifier. This tube amp provided the clean foundation that worked well with the fuzz pedal processing.

What pedal gives the fuzz sound on No One Knows QOTSA?

Josh Homme used a Fulltone Ultimate Octave pedal to create the fuzzy, aggressive character on the rhythm guitar parts. This pedal adds both fuzz distortion and octave effects to thicken the sound.

Where was No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age recorded?

"No One Knows" was recorded at Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, California, with Eric Valentine engineering. The studio's desert location and vintage equipment contributed to the album's distinctive sound.

rhythm guitar from "no one knows" by queens of the stone age

no one knows

queens of the stone age

rhythm guitar

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Tone Profile

Aggressive and punchy with a slightly fuzzy edge, this tone sits perfectly in the mix with a distinct character. It's tight and cutting, providing a solid foundation for the song.

Shop This Rig

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Ovation Ultra GP(instrument)
Ampeg VT-40(amp)
Fulltone Ultimate Octave(processing)

The Story

Josh Homme recorded the rhythm guitar on "No One Knows" using an Ovation Ultra GP guitar through an Ampeg VT-40 amp with a Fulltone Ultimate Octave pedal. The recording was done at Rancho De La Luna with engineer Eric Valentine, utilizing a combination of direct input and miked amplifier techniques to achieve the distinctive punchy, slightly fuzzy character.

Production Credits

Producer: Josh Homme

Engineer: Eric Valentine

Recorded at: Rancho De La Luna, Joshua Tree, CA

Signal Chain

Instrument: Ovation Ultra GPShop on Reverb

Amp: Ampeg VT-40Shop on Reverb

Processing: Fulltone Ultimate OctaveShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a semi-hollow or solid-body guitar and an amp known for its clean headroom.
Use a fuzz pedal to add some grit and sustain to the tone.
Experiment with different microphone placements to find the sweet spot for your amp.
Blend the direct input signal with the miked amp signal to taste.

Original Gear

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Ovation Ultra GPShop on Reverb(guitar)
Ampeg VT-40Shop on Reverb(amp)
Fulltone Ultimate OctaveShop on Reverb(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

EHX Big Muff PiShop on Reverb$80-$100

Alternative to: Fulltone Ultimate Octave

Provides similar fuzzy saturation and sustain characteristics for the aggressive edge

Fender Blues Junior IVShop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Ampeg VT-40

Tube amp with good clean headroom that takes pedals well, similar to how the VT-40 provides the foundation

Epiphone CasinoShop on Reverb$500-$700

Alternative to: Ovation Ultra GP

Semi-hollow body guitar that provides similar resonant character and tonal complexity

Boss OD-3 OverDriveShop on Reverb$50-$70

Alternative to: Fulltone Ultimate Octave

Budget option that adds the necessary grit and character without extreme distortion

Neural DSP Archetype NollyPlugin Boutique$80-$120

Alternative to: Ampeg VT-40 with recording setup

Plugin that can recreate the DI/amp blend approach with built-in cab simulation

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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rhythm guitar from “no one knows” by queens of the stone age | ToneDB