Tone Profile

A gritty, swamp-rock lead tone defined by its deep, pulsating amp tremolo and a raw, biting edge, characteristic of early Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Recorded in late 1968 at RCA Studio A, Hollywood, for the 'Bayou Country' album.
• The distinctive optical tremolo from the Kustom amplifier is a core sonic signature of the track.
• John Fogerty's aggressive picking style and use of finger vibrato contributed significantly to the raw energy of the sound.
• Minimal studio effects beyond the amp's capabilities were typically used on Fogerty's guitar parts during this era.
• The guitar tone is relatively dry, allowing the amp's character and tremolo to be prominent in the mix.

Recreation Tips

• Use a Rickenbacker 325 or a similar short-scale guitar with bright single-coil pickups.
• If a Kustom K200 amp isn't available, aim for a solid-state amp with a clean-to-slightly-gritty tone and pair it with a high-quality optical tremolo pedal.
• Set the tremolo depth high and the speed to a medium-fast pulse (approximately 5-7 cycles per second).
• Primarily use the bridge pickup for maximum bite and clarity, especially for the main riff.
• Add a subtle touch of spring reverb to create a sense of space, but ensure the tremolo remains the dominant effect.
• Employ an aggressive pick attack and experiment with slight string bends and finger vibrato to emulate Fogerty's playing style.

Recommended Gear

• Rickenbacker 325 Electric Guitar(guitar)
• Kustom K200A Amplifier Head(amp)
• Kustom 2x12 Speaker Cabinet (with Jensen C12N or similar)(amp)
• Strymon Flint V2 Tremolo & Reverb Pedal(pedal)
• Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone(mic)