Tone Profile

A raw, powerful, and slightly overdriven guitar sound with a clear emphasis on the midrange frequencies, providing a punchy and iconic rock tone. It's the sound of rock history.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The guitar was plugged into a Hiwatt DR103 amplifier, known for its clean but powerful sound. This amp was likely pushed into slight overdrive to achieve the song's signature tone.
• A Neumann U67 microphone was likely used to capture the sound of the amplifier. The mic was probably placed a few feet away from the cabinet to capture the full sound of the amp and speaker.
• The guitar's distinct tone comes from the combination of the semi-hollow body, the Hiwatt amp's clean power, and the subtle overdrive achieved by pushing the amp.
• The recording took place at the Grand Hotel in Montreux, Switzerland, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio.

Recreation Tips

• Start with a Gibson ES-335 style guitar for a similar semi-hollow body tone.
• Use a Hiwatt DR103 or similar clean, high-headroom amplifier.
• Set the amp to a clean tone and gradually increase the gain until you achieve a light overdrive. Focus on a powerful midrange.
• Use a microphone like a Neumann U67 or a similar condenser microphone to capture the amp's tone.
• Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot that captures the amp's full sound.
• Consider using a light overdrive pedal if you cannot achieve the desired tone with the amp alone.

Recommended Gear

• Gibson ES-335(guitar)
• Hiwatt DR103(amp)
• Neumann U67(mic)