Tone Profile

A relaxed, clean, and slightly twangy country-blues rhythm guitar sound with a warm, articulate character, typical of Clapton's 'Slowhand' era.

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Recorded in May 1977 at Olympic Studios, London.
• Produced by Glyn Johns, known for his natural and minimalist recording techniques.
• The rhythm guitar is a key element of the song's laid-back groove and sits well-defined in the mix.
• The overall production emphasizes clarity and warmth over heavy effects.
• Likely features double-tracked rhythm guitars for width, with similar tonal characteristics.

Recreation Tips

• Consider double-tracking the part and panning slightly left and right for a fuller stereo image.
• Use a Fender Stratocaster, selecting the neck/middle pickup position (position 4) for that characteristic 'cluck' and warmth.
• Aim for a clean to very slightly edge-of-breakup tone from a small Fender-style tube amp (like a Champ or Princeton) or the clean channel of a Music Man amp.
• Keep amp gain low and use master volume (if available) or mic placement to control level. Let the guitar's natural tone come through.
• Employ a light picking touch or hybrid picking to achieve the relaxed feel and dynamic articulation.
• Add a touch of subtle compression to even out dynamics without squashing the tone.
• Use a high-quality plate reverb emulation sparingly for a sense of space, or a subtle spring reverb if your amp has a good one.

Recommended Gear

• Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster(guitar)
• Fender '57 Custom Champ(amp)
• Music Man HD-130 Reverb Head(amp)
• Shure SM57(mic)
• Sennheiser MD 421-II(mic)
• Universal Audio LA-2A Teletronix Leveling Amplifier (or 1176 plugin)(plugin)
• Valhalla Plate (or similar plate reverb plugin)(plugin)