Stone Temple Pilots - Dead & Bloated - Guitar Lesson

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Stone Temple Pilots - Dead & Bloated - Guitar Lesson

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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Dead & Bloated


"Dead & Bloated" is the opening track by Stone Temple Pilots, the San Diego rock band formed in 1989 featuring guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo, drummer Eric Kretz, and vocalist Scott Weiland. The song serves as a heavy, brooding introduction to STP's catalog and showcases the band's blend of grunge and hard rock. For electric guitar players, it offers a solid study in thick, down-tuned riffs and the raw, aggressive tone that defined early 1990s alternative rock.

  • Dean DeLeo's guitar work on this track highlights a dark, heavy riff style typical of early STP's grunge-influenced sound.
  • Stone Temple Pilots formed in San Diego in 1989, with the classic lineup remaining stable for over two decades.
  • "Dead & Bloated" opens STP's debut record, making it one of the first impressions the band made on rock listeners worldwide.
Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Dean DeLeo uses Telecasters for STP's cleaner, stripped-back arrangements, leveraging their bright single-coil twang to cut through without muddiness. Their articulate bite provides the sparkly contrast to the band's heavier Les Paul-driven riffs.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

The Les Paul Standard's warm PAF-style humbuckers deliver the core-era STP crunch, offering rich midrange that bridges DeLeo's clean tones and overdriven Marshall breakup. This guitar anchors the band's signature heavy yet melodic sound.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

While less documented than his Standards and Deluxe, the Custom's fuller PAF voicing suits STP's dense, layered arrangements. Its premium construction complements DeLeo's preference for guitar-amp interaction over heavy effects.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

DeLeo pushes the JCM800 into natural tube saturation for Stone Temple Pilots' signature overdriven tone, avoiding heavy distortion pedals. This head provides the warm, organic breakup essential to tracks like 'Plush' and 'Vasoline.'

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

The Twin Reverb's pristine headroom and lush reverb define STP's clean, atmospheric parts heard on ballads like 'Big Empty.' Its sparkle complements DeLeo's Telecaster work and dynamic volume knob manipulation.

Vox AC30
Amp

Vox AC30

The AC30's natural chime and breakup character provide warmth and psychedelic texture for STP's cleaner passages and atmospheric moments. Its vintage British tone balances the Marshall's aggression in the band's dynamic arrangements.