rhythm guitar from “the pretender” by foo fighters | ToneDB
the pretender
foo fighters
rhythm guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
A powerful and crunchy rhythm guitar tone, characterized by a blend of high gain and articulation, providing a driving force for the song. It's thick and present, with a subtle underlying warmth.
Gear
- Gibson ES-335instrument
- ReverbSweetwater
- Vox AC30amp
- ReverbSweetwater
- Neumann U67microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- Pro Co RATprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
- MXR Phase 90processing
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
Dave Grohl's rhythm guitar tone on "The Pretender" features a Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow body guitar running through a Vox AC30 amp, with additional distortion from a Pro Co RAT pedal and subtle movement from an MXR Phase 90. The track was recorded at Studio 606 in Los Angeles with producer Gil Norton and engineer Adrian Bushby, using close-miking with a high-quality condenser microphone to capture the amp's character and detail.
Production Credits
Producer: Gil Norton
Engineer: Adrian Bushby
Recorded at: Studio 606 (Los Angeles, CA)
Signal Chain
Instrument: Gibson ES-335
Amp: Vox AC30
Microphone: Neumann U67
Processing: Pro Co RAT, MXR Phase 90
Recreation Tips
- Start with a semi-hollow guitar like a Gibson ES-335 for its blend of warmth and sustain.
- Use a Vox AC30 or similar amp known for its chime and overdrive capabilities.
- Dial in a moderate amount of gain on the amp and supplement it with a RAT for added distortion and sustain.
- Introduce a subtle phaser effect to add movement and depth.
- Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot that captures both the amp's character and the room's ambience.
Original Gear
- Gibson ES-335(guitar)
- Vox AC30(amp)
- Neumann U67(mic)
- Pro Co RAT(pedal)
- MXR Phase 90(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Gibson ES-335
Provides the same semi-hollow construction and basic tonal character as the Gibson at a budget-friendly price point
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Vox AC30
Delivers authentic Vox chime and overdrive characteristics in a more manageable 15-watt package
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Pro Co RAT
Current production version of the classic RAT distortion that provides the same thick, cutting overdrive
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: MXR Phase 90
Still in production and provides the exact same subtle phasing effect used on the original recording
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Vox AC30 + RAT combination
Offers high-quality amp modeling with built-in overdrive and modulation effects for home recording
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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