Jonny Greenwood’s Stuttering Killswitch Tone and Ondes Martenot Magic: The Complete Guitar Setup Guide

Jonny Greenwood doesn’t just play guitar—he reshapes what the instrument can do. When someone hears those stuttering, machine-gun bursts ringing out in a Radiohead track, or feels the alien beauty of an Ondes Martenot drifting through the mix, there’s no mistaking Greenwood’s touch. For years, guitarists and gearheads have hunted for the secrets behind that signature tone. Turns out, it’s not just about flashy gear or rare instruments. It’s about how Greenwood combines a modified Fender Telecaster Plus with a momentary killswitch for stutter effects, and then weaves in the expressive Ondes Martenot to create sounds that feel both urgent and otherworldly. This comprehensive guide breaks down the actual gear, the techniques, and the philosophy behind Greenwood’s unique approach—giving guitarists a clear path to experiment with these tools in their own setups.

Inside Jonny Greenwood’s Guitar Setup: Tools of Innovation

Jonny Greenwood’s guitar setup reads like a mad scientist’s lab. At the heart sits a Fender Telecaster Plus—modded, battered, and fitted with a killswitch that’s become a Radiohead trademark. Most players think of the Telecaster as a classic, but Greenwood’s approach is anything but a tribute act. His Telecaster Plus is loaded with Lace Sensor pickups (Red at the bridge, Blue at the neck), delivering noise-free punch and clarity. Many of Radiohead’s jagged riffs and percussive bursts—especially on albums like "OK Computer"—trace back to this exact guitar.

Signature Guitars and Pedals

Greenwood’s arsenal goes deeper than one guitar. The Fender Starcaster shows up for more ethereal moments, while others—like a Jazzmaster—appear live for select songs. Yet, it’s the Telecaster Plus that steals the show, thanks to its killswitch mod. His pedalboard might look different from tour to tour, but some mainstays almost always appear:

• Marshall ShredMaster: Aggressive, crunchy drive. Central to "Just" and "Paranoid Android."
• Digitech Whammy: Pitch shifting—often paired with the killswitch for glitchy, disorienting leads.
• BOSS SD-1/OD-3/TS-808: Layered overdrives for nuanced dirt.
• Small Stone and PolyChorus: Swirling modulation effects.
• Roland Space Echo/RE-20, Boss RV-3/RV-5: Analog flavor, ambient delays and reverbs.
• Akai Headrush: For loops and wild, improvisational moments.

Amp-wise, Greenwood switches it up. Classic Fender Twins and Vox AC30s see use in the studio and live. Sometimes a Mesa/Boogie for modern punch. Each amp’s chosen for how it responds to pedals and the needs of the song at hand.

A Gear Philosophy: Serving the Song

What sets Greenwood apart isn’t just the gear—it’s his philosophy. He’s said many times that every pedal, guitar, and oddball effect exists for a reason: to tell a story. Most players swap pedals hunting for something new. Greenwood builds setups that evolve with Radiohead’s sound—from shoegaze chaos to cinematic ambience. His board shifts from noisy to clean, always in service of the album’s emotion. There’s no set-and-forget rig. It’s about music first, always. Mixdown’s in-depth gear rundown breaks down these choices in detail, spotlighting the constant interplay between technology and creativity.

The Stutter Effect: Jonny Greenwood’s Killswitch Technique Explained

One sound defines Jonny Greenwood’s most urgent guitar work—the stutter. That rapid-fire, start-stop burst cuts straight through the mix, driving tracks like "Just" and "Paranoid Android." Most guitarists assume it’s just digital trickery. Truth is, it’s hardware: a momentary killswitch installed right into Greenwood’s Telecaster Plus.

How a Guitar Killswitch Works

Standard guitar electronics keep the signal 'hot'—but add a killswitch, and you’re playing with silence just as much as sound. Greenwood’s switch is normally-open (N.O.), meaning it only interrupts the signal when pressed. Instead of simply breaking the circuit (which causes nasty popping), the switch grounds the hot output to the sleeve of the jack. Press it, and the signal is instantly silenced—release, and it returns. No latency, just pure staccato rhythm. That’s the key: use a normally-open, momentary pushbutton wired to ground. Anything less gets you hum, buzz, or a delayed cut.

Greenwood’s Signature Use: Practical Examples

On "Just," Greenwood dances on the killswitch, creating that hyper-percussive intro and middle section. On "Paranoid Android," the stutter transforms from pure rhythm to sonic weapon, especially when paired with pitch shifting from a Digitech Whammy. The killswitch gives him full control over the level of chaos—fast bursts, slow pulses, even machine-gun rolls—all in real time. Fans trying to nail that Radiohead sound should start here. Greenwood’s approach is hands-on: thumb always near the button, coordinating riffs and cuts with exact timing.

DIY: Achieving the Stutter Effect

Want to try it? It’s easier than most realize. Here’s a step-by-step (condensed) guide:

• Choose a suitable N.O. (normally-open), momentary pushbutton switch—metal and low profile work best.
• Drill a hole through the pickguard or directly into the body (below the strings, for thumb/finger access).
• Solder one lug to the output jack ground (sleeve), one to hot (tip).
• Test before reassembling—push to mute, release to restore.

For advanced mods (multi-pickup guitars), wire the switch after the selector, or use SPDT/DPDT switches for full signal cut. Full guides with diagrams can be found at Instructables. Aim for zero pop or clicking. The trick: always ground, never just open-circuit the hot wire.

Ondes Martenot Magic: Greenwood’s Secret Sonic Weapon

The Ondes Martenot isn’t just rare; it’s built for emotion. Most listeners have never seen one, much less used its haunting tones. Greenwood treats this early electronic instrument not as a museum piece, but as a living voice in Radiohead’s arsenal. The Ondes’ signature sound? A chilling, almost human wail—impossible to fake with stock synths.

Ondes Martenot 101: A Rare Instrument

Invented in 1928 by Maurice Martenot, the Ondes Martenot is a monophonic electronic instrument that creates sound through oscillating tubes controlled by a keyboard and a sliding ring. What makes it special isn’t just the sine wave core, but the many ways that core is shaped—by touch, intensity, and unique speakers. There are maybe a dozen original units in reliable condition worldwide. Greenwood started using newer student models, but always focuses on classic features: the tactile ring for pitch and the “touche d’intensité” (intensity key) for expression.

Greenwood’s Approach: Beyond Pure Sine Waves

Most Martenot imitators stick with pure sine output. Greenwood doesn’t settle. He blends sine with filtered square or clipped triangle waves for richness. The result? More harmonics, more grit at high intensity, and a vocal quality that cuts through dense mixes. He also exploits Martenot’s array of speakers—especially the Palme (gongs), Metallique (spring), and classic amps like Celestion Vintage 30s—to add resonance and color. For Martenot-emulation setups, try layering analog wave oscillators with a lowpass filter and running through a vintage speaker or amp model.

Expressive Control: The Ring and Intensity Key

Ask any player—the Martenot’s magic is in the interface. The ring controls pitch with a ribbon for seamless glides. The intensity key responds to finger pressure, almost like a violin bow, shaping the attack and decay in real time. Greenwood uses this to ‘sing’ through the instrument, often leaving MIDI and modern synths far behind in feel. This tactile, expressive control is the reason Radiohead’s "How to Disappear Completely" and "The National Anthem" sound so hauntingly organic. For DIYers, look for digital or analog synths that offer ribbon pitch control and pressure sensitivity—or consider The King of Gear’s in-depth analysis for guidance on dialing in the right waves and circuits.

Blending Guitar and Ondes Martenot: Crafting Greenwood’s Signature Sound

Greenwood rarely relies on one instrument alone. His secret? Layering the aggressive, percussive cuts of his Telecaster with the almost-vocal drama of the Ondes Martenot. This blending shapes some of Radiohead’s most iconic textures—big, cinematic, and weirdly human all at once.

Studio Layering and Live Performance

In the studio, Greenwood tracks guitar and Martenot separately, then merges them with creative effects. Take "How to Disappear Completely": the Martenot swoops between ghostly strings, while guitar swells and stutters fill out the space. "The National Anthem" offers another masterclass, with guitar feedback and Martenot howling in parallel. Live, Greenwood sometimes routes Martenot through stompboxes right alongside guitar—no separation, just a seamless wall of sound. He adapts each song’s rig—from stripped-down boards for "There There" to sprawling effect chains on "Everything in Its Right Place." The only rule: serve the emotional arc of the song, every time.

Pedalboard Integration: Effects and Routing

Here’s the trick: Greenwood’s pedalboard isn’t just for guitar. He often runs the Ondes Martenot straight into delays, reverbs, even loopers and modulation effects. The signal chain branches, with A/B switchers and custom patching to let both instruments use the same delays or create massive stereo effects. Greenwood’s approach keeps signals flexible—as seen on detailed gear breakdowns. Sometimes, Martenot gets its own amp or isolated speaker, sculpting tone with volume pedals or EQ in the effects loop. Want to emulate this? Experiment with patching a synth or a digital Martenot emulator through guitar pedals—start with modulation, stack delays, and always play with signal order for new discoveries.

Conclusion

Jonny Greenwood stands as one of the most inventive guitarists of his generation—not because of flashy solos, but thanks to a relentless drive to explore new sounds. His setup—anchored by a killswitch-modded Telecaster Plus and the expressive Ondes Martenot—serves as a masterclass in storytelling through gear. Every pedal, amp, and hack brings something unique to the table, never used just for show.

For guitarists chasing new textures, the Greenwood approach is a clear lesson: ask how each tool shapes a song’s emotion. Experiment with killswitch mods, dive into waveform blending, and don’t be afraid to blend traditional guitars with unorthodox electronics. The results? Only as strange and beautiful as you allow them to be. That’s Greenwood’s legacy—tools in service of the song, always pushing where sound can go next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q What pedals does Jonny Greenwood use?

Jonny Greenwood’s main pedals include the Marshall ShredMaster for distortion, Digitech Whammy for pitch shifting, BOSS overdrives (SD-1, OD-3, TS-808), Electro-Harmonix Small Stone and PolyChorus for modulation, Roland Space Echo and RE-20 for delay, Boss reverbs (RV-3/RV-5), and the Akai Headrush for looping. He adapts his board for each album and tour.

Q How does Jonny Greenwood use the ondes Martenot?

Greenwood uses the ondes Martenot to create expressive, vocal-like textures by blending sine with square and triangle waves, manipulating speaker resonance, and shaping dynamics through the ribbon and pressure-sensitive key. He often layers its sound with guitar and effects in both studio and live settings.

Q What guitar does Jonny Greenwood play live?

Greenwood’s main live guitar is a modified Fender Telecaster Plus, fitted with Lace Sensor pickups and a momentary killswitch. He also uses a Fender Starcaster and occasionally a Jazzmaster for specific songs, switching based on the needs of Radiohead’s setlist.

Q How do you install a killswitch for a Greenwood-style stutter effect?

Install a normally-open momentary pushbutton switch on your guitar, wiring one lug to the signal ‘hot’ and the other to ground at the output jack. This grounds the signal when pressed, creating Greenwood’s stutter effect. A full step-by-step guide is available at Instructables.