What guitar did Ed Sheeran use on Thinking Out Loud?

Ed Sheeran used a Fender Stratocaster for the lead guitar parts on 'Thinking Out Loud'. The neck pickup was likely selected to achieve the warm, smooth tone heard on the recording.

How to get Ed Sheeran's guitar tone on Thinking Out Loud?

Start with a clean Fender-style amplifier, add subtle overdrive with a Tube Screamer set to low gain, and apply light chorus for depth. Use the neck pickup on a Stratocaster-style guitar for the warmest tone.

What amp did Ed Sheeran use for Thinking Out Loud guitar tone?

The lead guitar on 'Thinking Out Loud' was recorded through a Fender Blues Junior amplifier. This tube amp provides the clean foundation with natural warmth and compression that defines the tone.

What effects pedals were used on Thinking Out Loud guitar?

The main effects used were an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer for subtle overdrive warmth and a Boss CE-2 Chorus for added depth and movement. Both effects were applied subtly to complement rather than dominate the mix.

Who produced Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran?

Jake Gosling produced 'Thinking Out Loud' and also served as the recording engineer. The track was recorded at Sticky Studios in Surrey, England.

lead guitar from "thinking out loud" by ed sheeran

thinking out loud

ed sheeran

lead guitar

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Tone Profile

A warm, clean electric guitar tone with a touch of overdrive and subtle chorus, providing a smooth and melodic sound. It sits nicely in the mix without being too aggressive, complementing the vocals and acoustic elements.

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Fender Stratocaster(instrument)
Fender Blues Junior(amp)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer(processing)
Boss CE-2 Chorus(processing)

The Story

Ed Sheeran's lead guitar tone on 'Thinking Out Loud' was recorded using a Fender Stratocaster through a Fender Blues Junior amplifier, with an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer providing subtle overdrive warmth and a Boss CE-2 Chorus adding depth. The signal was captured with a close-mic'd Shure SM57 at Sticky Studios in Surrey, with Jake Gosling handling both production and engineering duties.