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lead guitar from “the man who sold the world” by david bowie | ToneDB

the man who sold the world

david bowie

lead guitar

70% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A warm, slightly overdriven guitar tone with a touch of fuzz and a distinct mid-range character, creating a haunting and memorable sound.

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The Story

Mick Ronson created this distinctive guitar tone using a Gibson Les Paul through a Marshall Supa Fuzz pedal. The song was recorded at Trident Studios in London with Tony Visconti producing and Ken Scott engineering. The Marshall Supa Fuzz was integral to achieving the warm, overdriven character with that haunting mid-range presence that defines the track.

Production Credits

Producer: Tony Visconti

Engineer: Ken Scott

Recorded at: Trident Studios, London

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Gibson Les Paul or similar guitar with humbucker pickups.
  • The most critical component is the Marshall Supa Fuzz pedal. If unavailable, experiment with other fuzz pedals to find a similar tone.
  • Adjust the fuzz pedal for a moderate amount of overdrive and sustain. Avoid excessive distortion.
  • Use a clean amp setting as a foundation, allowing the fuzz pedal to shape the tone.
  • Experiment with EQ to achieve the desired mid-range character. Slight boosts in the 500Hz-1kHz range can help.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

EHX Big Muff PiShop on Reverb$80-$120

Alternative to: Marshall Supa Fuzz

Provides similar warm fuzz character with controllable sustain and mid-range presence

Way Huge Swollen PickleShop on Reverb$150-$200

Alternative to: Marshall Supa Fuzz

Offers vintage-style fuzz with excellent mid-range control to nail that haunting tone quality

Epiphone Les Paul StandardShop on Reverb$400-$600

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Budget option with humbucker pickups that delivers the warm, thick tone foundation needed

Catalinbread Sabbra CadabraShop on Reverb$180-$220

Alternative to: Marshall Supa Fuzz

Designed to recreate classic early 70s fuzz tones with excellent mid-range character

Neural DSP Archetype GojiraPlugin Boutique$100-$130

Alternative to: Marshall Supa Fuzz + Les Paul combination

Includes vintage fuzz models and Les Paul guitar modeling for complete tone recreation

Sources

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