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rhythm guitar from “what's up?” by 4 non blondes | ToneDB

what's up?

4 non blondes

rhythm guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

A bright and punchy rhythm guitar tone that is raw but full, with a slight edge that cuts through the mix, providing a strong foundation for the song's energetic vibe. It sounds like a direct guitar amp with little processing.

Gear

Gibson Les Paulinstrument
ReverbSweetwater
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifieramp
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Shure SM57microphone
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The Story

The rhythm guitar tone on 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up?" was recorded by guitarist Roger Rocha at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, California, with producer David Tickle. According to Premier Guitar, Rocha used a Gibson Les Paul through a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier amplifier, with the signal captured using a Shure SM57 microphone. The sound was kept deliberately raw and direct with minimal processing to maintain the amp's natural character.

Production Credits

Producer: David Tickle

Engineer: Unknown

Recorded at: The Plant Studios, Sausalito, CA

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Les Paul

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Microphone: Shure SM57

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Gibson Les Paul style guitar into a Mesa/Boogie amplifier for a similar high-gain foundation.
  • Use a Shure SM57 close to the speaker cone, slightly off-axis, to capture the amp's raw sound.
  • Focus on amp settings for tone shaping: gain staging, EQ, and presence to achieve the desired edge and clarity.
  • Avoid excessive post-processing; subtle EQ adjustments can refine the tone without masking the amp's character.

Original Gear

  • Gibson Les Paul(guitar)
  • Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier(amp)
  • Shure SM57(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s$500-$600

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Provides the humbucker pickup warmth and sustain of a Les Paul at a budget price, essential for this full yet punchy rhythm tone

ReverbSweetwater
PRS MT 15$700-$800

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Delivers similar high-gain Mesa-style saturation and punch in a more affordable and compact package

ReverbSweetwater
Neural DSP Fortin Cali Suite$100-$150

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Accurately models Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier tones with the raw, unprocessed character needed for this direct guitar sound

ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57

The same microphone used on the original recording, still the industry standard for capturing punchy guitar cabinet tones

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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