TONEDB

lead guitar from “hotel california” by eagles | ToneDB

hotel california

eagles

lead guitar

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Tone Profile

A warm, singing lead tone with a distinctive swirling Leslie speaker effect, rich sustain, and articulate overdrive. This creates a timeless and instantly recognizable sound, often described as 'creamy' and 'vocal'.

Signal Chain

Instrument: 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely bridge pickup)

Amp: Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3 circuit)

Microphone: Shure SM57s and/or Neumann U87s (on Leslie cabinet)

Processing: Leslie 122/147 rotating speaker (as primary effect and speaker cabinet), Echoplex EP-3 tape delay (subtle), Studio Plate Reverb (post-mic, during mixing), Studio Console Compression (post-mic, during mixing)

Other: The Fender Tweed Deluxe's output was routed directly into the Leslie cabinet. The Leslie was then mic'd, often in stereo (one mic on the horn, one on the bass rotor).

Recording Notes

  • This recreation focuses on Don Felder's distinct solo tone, particularly from the first half of the extended outro solo.
  • Felder's 1959 Les Paul was plugged into a Fender Tweed Deluxe amp, which was then fed into a Leslie 122 speaker cabinet.
  • The Leslie speaker was crucial for the signature swirling sound and was typically mic'd with two microphones (e.g., one on the rotating horn, one on the bass rotor) for a spacious stereo image.
  • An Echoplex EP-3 tape delay was used subtly for added depth and sustain.
  • Additional studio processing like plate reverb and console compression were applied by producer Bill Szymczyk during the mixing stage.
  • Felder meticulously composed and practiced his solo parts for the song.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a guitar with humbucking pickups; a Les Paul or similar style is ideal. Select the bridge pickup for more bite.
  • A Fender Tweed Deluxe amp (or a high-quality modeler/clone) driven into natural overdrive is key. Don't overdo the gain; aim for a warm, touch-sensitive breakup.
  • The Leslie speaker effect is paramount. Use a dedicated Leslie simulator pedal (e.g., Strymon Lex, Neo Ventilator) or a quality plugin. Set it to a moderate speed (chorale setting is often preferred over tremolo).
  • Add a touch of analog or tape-style delay (around 300-400ms with low mix and few repeats) for warmth and space.
  • Focus on smooth, lyrical phrasing with precise string bends (often whole-step bends) and controlled vibrato.
  • Experiment with picking dynamics to control the amount of overdrive and sustain from the amp.
  • If miking a real Leslie, try placing one mic on the treble horn and another on the bass rotor, panning them for a wide stereo field.

Sources