Tone Profile

A biting, articulate, and highly compressed direct-injected guitar tone with a prominent upper-midrange presence, giving it a cutting and slightly nasal character, famously featured in the song's iconic solo.

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The iconic solo was recorded directly into the mixing console, bypassing a traditional guitar amplifier for this specific part.
• Extensive use of the console's parametric EQ was critical to shape the direct signal, particularly boosting upper-mid frequencies to make the guitar cut through the dense mix.
• Heavy studio compression (likely an Urei 1176) was applied to even out dynamics, add sustain, and enhance the aggressive attack.
• The final solo performance heard on the record is a composite of many different takes, meticulously edited together by Lindsey Buckingham and the engineers.
• The choice of guitar (Alembic or Stratocaster) provided a bright, clear starting point for the DI signal.

Recreation Tips

• Use the bridge pickup of a bright-sounding electric guitar.
• Connect your guitar to a high-quality DI box and then into a clean preamp with EQ capabilities, or use a preamp emulation plugin.
• Employ a parametric EQ to significantly boost the upper-midrange (around 2kHz to 4kHz) and use a high-pass filter to remove unnecessary low-end rumble.
• Apply a compressor with a fast attack and a medium to high ratio to achieve a punchy, sustained sound similar to an 1176.
• Don't be afraid to make bold EQ moves; this tone is heavily sculpted.
• Practice hybrid picking or use an aggressive picking technique to capture the articulation.
• Consider layering multiple takes if recording, as the original was heavily comped.

Recommended Gear

• Fender American Vintage II 1970s Stratocaster(guitar)
• Alembic Series I(guitar)
• Warm Audio WA73-EQ (Neve 1073-style preamp with EQ)(preamp)
• MXR Dyna Comp Compressor(pedal)
• Boss GE-7 Equalizer(pedal)