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rhythm guitar from “learn to fly” by foo fighters | ToneDB

learn to fly

foo fighters

rhythm guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

A driven, crunchy rhythm guitar tone with a classic rock vibe, providing a solid foundation for the song. It's powerful and present without being overly distorted, perfect for driving the energetic feel of the track.

Gear

Gibson Les Paulinstrument
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Vox AC30amp
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Shure SM57microphone
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The Story

The rhythm guitar on "Learn to Fly" was recorded at Studio 606 using a Gibson Les Paul through a Vox AC30 amplifier, captured with a Shure SM57 microphone. The tone relies on the AC30's natural overdrive characteristics, providing a classic British-style crunch that drives the song's energetic feel without excessive distortion.

Production Credits

Producer: Foo Fighters

Engineer: Tory MacDougall

Recorded at: Studio 606 (Alexandria, VA)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Les Paul

Amp: Vox AC30

Microphone: Shure SM57

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Gibson Les Paul or similar humbucker-equipped guitar.
  • Use a Vox AC30 amp, or an amp modeler set to emulate its characteristics.
  • Set the amp for a moderate amount of overdrive—enough to provide crunch without excessive distortion.
  • Place a Shure SM57 close to the speaker cone, slightly off-axis, to capture a balanced sound.
  • Adjust the EQ to taste, focusing on a strong midrange presence to cut through the mix.

Original Gear

  • Gibson Les Paul(guitar)
  • Vox AC30(amp)
  • Shure SM57(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s$500-$600

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Provides the essential humbucker pickup tone and mahogany body resonance of the original Les Paul at a budget-friendly price point

ReverbSweetwater
Vox AC15C1$600-$700

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Delivers the same EL84 tube-driven overdrive and chime as the AC30 but at lower wattage, perfect for studio and home recording

ReverbSweetwater
Universal Audio Lion plugin$150-$200

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Accurately models the AC30's preamp saturation and speaker response, ideal for direct recording without needing the physical amplifier

ReverbSweetwater
Boss Blues Breaker pedal$100-$120

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Recreates the midrange-focused overdrive character of cranked AC30 when used with a clean amp, maintaining the British voicing

ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57

The same microphone used on the original recording, still the industry standard for capturing guitar amplifiers

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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