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Tone Recipe: How to Get the Radiohead ‘My Iron Lung’ Guitar Tone

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The guitar sound on My Iron Lung is the definitive blueprint for Jonny Greenwood’s “anti-guitar” philosophy. It’s a jarring mix of fragile, pitch-shifted cleans and explosive, “pulverizing” distortion. Recreating it isn’t just about finding a good setting; it’s about capturing the specific way his DigiTech Whammy struggles to track the notes. Below, you will find specific guitar sound modeling instructions to help you achieve the tone, using several different leading amp modelling units.

Radiohead performing live.
Image by Raph_PH

1. Line 6 HX Stomp / Helix Recipe

  • Amp Model: Essex A30 (Vox AC30).
  • Drive: 4.5 (Edge of breakup).
  • Key Effect: Pitch Wham (DigiTech Whammy model). Set to +1 Octave (the studio version actually uses +1, though some live versions push +2).
  • Distortion: Brit Bloom (Marshall ShredMaster model). For the heavy “explosion” sections, crank the gain to 7.0.
  • Forensic Tip: Jonny’s clean tone is notoriously dry and “poky.” Turn off all reverb and use the Bridge pickup on a Tele-style guitar to get that sharp, aggressive “bite.”

Need more recipes for your gear? Choose your unit below!

Line 6 HX Stomp: 9 recipes.

Fractal FM3: 9 recipes.

Kemper Player: 8 recipes.

2. Fractal FM3 / Axe-FX III Recipe

  • Amp Model: Class-A 30W TB.
  • Input Drive: 3.5.
  • Key Effect: Pitch Shifter block set to Whammy mode (+1 Oct).
  • Distortion: Use the Classic Drive or Shred Dist block to mimic the mid-focused grit of the Marshall ShredMaster.

The Vox AC30 Foundation Just like the Mr. Brightside Indie Chime and the Jet Garage Rock Grit, the My Iron Lung tone relies on the “Top Boost” of a Vox. It’s the ultimate canvas for aggressive, British-influenced rock.

The Magic of the Vox “Top Boost”

The “British Sound” that defines these recipes is largely thanks to the Vox Top Boost circuit. Originally added to the AC30 in the early 60s to compete with louder American amps, it adds an extra tube stage that provides a specific high-frequency “sparkle” and harmonic richness. While most amps get muddy as you push the gain, the Top Boost stays articulate, which is why it’s the go-to for Jonny Greenwood’s jagged leads, Dave Keuning’s arpeggios, and Mike Campbell’s rhythm tracks. It provides the bite without losing the chime.

3. Kemper Profiler Player Recipe

  • Profile Choice: Look for a Cranked Vox AC30 or a Fender Seventy-Five profile (Jonny famously used a solid-state Fender 85 for his distortion).
  • Effect: Pitch Pedal set to an octave up.
  • Definition: +3.0 to ensure the “glitch” of the pitch shifter cuts through.

Session Notes: The “Anti-Guitar” Approach

The recording of My Iron Lung is a fascinating Frankenstein of sessions. While most of the track was recorded at RAK Studios, the intro and verses are actually taken from a live performance at the London Astoria in May 1994. Producer John Leckie famously edited the Astoria live recording into the RAK studio choruses.

  • The Gear Choice: Jonny’s primary weapon was his Fender Telecaster Plus, equipped with Lace Sensor pickups (Dually Red at the bridge, Blue at the neck). These pickups are key—they provide a high-output, noise-free signal that allows the Marshall ShredMaster to sound massive without the typical single-coil hum.
  • The “Glitch” Artifacts: The pitch-shifting in the intro comes from a first-generation DigiTech WH-1 Whammy. Modern digital pitch shifters are “too good” and track too smoothly. To get the authentic Iron Lung sound, you actually want the pedal to “struggle,” creating those lo-fi, warbling artifacts as it tries to track the notes.
  • The “Creep” Connection: Jonny used his solid-state Fender 85 amp specifically for the heavy distortion sections, just as he did for the “crunch” in Creep. The lack of tube “sag” in a solid-state amp is what gives those heavy riffs their immediate, percussive “slam.”

Quick Facts: My Iron Lung

  • Artist: Radiohead
  • Release Date: September 1994
  • Album/EP: My Iron Lung (later appeared on The Bends)
  • Key Gear: Fender Telecaster Plus, DigiTech Whammy (WH-1), Marshall ShredMaster
  • Studio: RAK Studios, London / Live at the London Astoria
  • Producer: John Leckie

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