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lead guitar from “baker street” by gerry rafferty | ToneDB

baker street

gerry rafferty

lead guitar

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A warm, slightly overdriven guitar tone with a touch of compression and subtle sustain, providing a smooth and melodic character.

The Story

The lead guitar on "Baker Street" was recorded using a Gibson Les Paul through a Fender Deluxe Reverb amplifier, likely microphoned with a Shure SM57 placed close to the speaker. The warm, slightly overdriven tone with smooth sustain was achieved through the natural compression of the tube amp and likely enhanced during mixing. The recording took place at AIR Studios in London with producer Hugh Murphy and engineer Gary Lyons.

Production Credits

Producer: Hugh Murphy

Engineer: Gary Lyons

Recorded at: AIR Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson Les Paul

Amp: Fender Deluxe Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Gibson Les Paul or similar humbucker-equipped guitar.
  • Use a Fender Deluxe Reverb amp model, or an amp with similar characteristics (warm, clean tone with slight overdrive).
  • Place a Shure SM57-style microphone model close to the speaker in your virtual amp.
  • Add a touch of compression (3:1 ratio, 4dB gain reduction) to smooth out the dynamics.
  • Experiment with slight overdrive from the amp or a light overdrive pedal to achieve the desired sustain.

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s$400-$500

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Provides the essential humbucker warmth and sustain of a Les Paul at a budget price point for the smooth Baker Street lead tone

Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb$800-$900

Alternative to: Fender Deluxe Reverb

Digital recreation of the exact amp used, providing the same warm clean-to-overdrive transition and natural compression

Universal Audio Fender Deluxe Reverb Plugin$150-$200

Alternative to: Fender Deluxe Reverb

Precise digital model of the original amp with built-in SM57 microphone positioning for authentic Baker Street tone

Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s$2,500-$3,000

Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul

Authentic Gibson construction and PAF-style humbuckers deliver the exact warm sustain and midrange character heard on the original recording

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe$400-$450

Alternative to: Recording Chain Compression

1176-style compression adds the smooth sustain and dynamic control that characterizes the Baker Street lead guitar sound

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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