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rhythm guitar from “my hero” by foo fighters | ToneDB

my hero

foo fighters

rhythm guitar

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A punchy and powerful rhythm guitar tone with a slightly overdriven character, providing a solid foundation for the song. The sound is thick and present with a balanced frequency response.

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The Story

Dave Grohl's rhythm guitar on "My Hero" was recorded during the Foo Fighters' sessions at Grandmaster Studios in Hollywood for "The Colour and the Shape" album, produced by Gil Norton. The track features Grohl's Gibson ES-335 through a Vox AC30, capturing the amp's characteristic chime and compression when pushed into mild overdrive.

Production Credits

Producer: Gil Norton

Engineer: Bradley Cook

Recorded at: Grand Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Gibson ES-335 or similar semi-hollow body guitar to get the right foundation.
  • Use a Vox AC30 amp or an amp modeler with AC30 settings.
  • Adjust the amp's gain to achieve a slightly overdriven sound.
  • Experiment with microphone placement to capture the amp's sound accurately. A Neumann U67 is a good choice, but other condenser mics can work as well.
  • In the mix, ensure the guitar sits well with the drums and bass, providing a solid rhythmic backbone.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone ES-335Shop on Reverb$400-$600

Alternative to: Gibson ES-335

Delivers the semi-hollow punch and sustain of the original at a fraction the cost, perfect for the chunky rhythm work on this track

Vox AC30C2Shop on Reverb$1,200-$1,500

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Current production AC30 with the same EL84 tube compression and chime that gives this tone its musical overdrive character

Boss Blues Driver BD-2Shop on Reverb$50-$70

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Can push any clean amp into AC30-style compression and overdrive, essential for getting the driven rhythm tone without the full amp

Universal Audio Dream '65 PluginPlugin Boutique$150-$200

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Accurately models the AC30's tube saturation and frequency response, perfect for direct recording setups

Audio-Technica AT4040Shop on Reverb$300-$400

Alternative to: Neumann U67

Large diaphragm condenser that captures the full-range punch and presence needed for this rhythm guitar sound

Sources

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