TONEDB

rhythm guitar from “locked out of heaven” by bruno mars | ToneDB

locked out of heaven

bruno mars

rhythm guitar

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A tight, percussive guitar sound with a slightly scooped midrange and a clean but funky character. The tone emphasizes clarity and rhythmic precision, fitting the song's energetic vibe.

The Story

The rhythm guitar on "Locked Out of Heaven" was recorded using a Fender Telecaster through a Vox AC30 amplifier, close-mic'd with a Shure SM57. The track was recorded at Levcon Studios in Los Angeles with producer Mark Ronson and engineer Charles Moniz. The percussive, tight character of the tone likely came from careful amp settings emphasizing clarity and transient response, with additional compression and possibly gating applied during mixing to enhance the rhythmic attack.

Production Credits

Producer: Mark Ronson

Engineer: Charles Moniz

Recorded at: Levcon Studios, Los Angeles, CA

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Telecaster

Amp: Vox AC30

Microphone: Shure SM57

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Fender Telecaster into a Vox AC30.
  • Use a Shure SM57 close to the speaker cone.
  • Set the amp for a clean tone with a bit of edge, focusing on clarity and transient response.
  • Experiment with compression to tighten the sound and bring out the percussive attack.
  • Consider using a gate to further clean up the signal and emphasize the rhythm.

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster$400-$450

Alternative to: Fender Telecaster

Offers the essential Telecaster bridge pickup bite and clarity needed for this percussive rhythm tone at a budget-friendly price

Vox AC15C1$650-$750

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Provides the classic Vox chime and clean headroom characteristics of the AC30 in a more manageable size for home recording

Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box$300-$350

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Includes authentic Vox AC30 modeling with built-in speaker simulation, perfect for direct recording of this tight, percussive tone

Shure SM57$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57

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

FabFilter Pro-C 2$180-$200

Alternative to: Studio compression and gating

Excellent for tightening the percussive attack and controlling dynamics to match the original's punchy character

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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