rhythm guitar from “love will tear us apart” by joy division | ToneDB
love will tear us apart
joy division
rhythm guitar
Tone Profile
The rhythm guitar has a clean and slightly chorus-y tone with a bit of jangle, providing a melancholic and driving backdrop to the song. It's bright but not harsh, with a clear attack and controlled sustain, fitting the new wave/post-punk aesthetic.
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The Story
Bernard Sumner's rhythm guitar sound on "Love Will Tear Us Apart" was recorded at Strawberry Studios with producer Martin Hannett. The signal chain consisted of a Shergold Marathon guitar running through an HH Electronics IC100S amplifier, with an MXR Pitch Transposer providing the subtle chorus effect rather than a traditional chorus pedal. This setup created the song's distinctive clean, jangly tone that became a hallmark of Joy Division's sound.
Production Credits
Producer: Martin Hannett
Engineer: Unknown
Recorded at: Strawberry Studios, Stockport
Signal Chain
Instrument: Shergold MarathonShop on Reverb
Amp: HH Electronics IC100SShop on Reverb
Processing: MXR Pitch TransposerShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a guitar that has bright single-coil pickups. If you don't have access to a Shergold, a Fender Telecaster or similar guitar can work.
- Use a clean amp setting with minimal gain. The HH IC100S is known for its clean headroom.
- Emulate the chorus effect using an MXR Pitch Transposer, or similar chorus/pitch-shifting pedal with a subtle setting.
- Adjust EQ to brighten the tone without making it harsh. Slight compression can help even out the dynamics.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Shergold Marathon
Bright single-coil pickups provide the jangly attack and clarity needed for this clean post-punk tone
Alternative to: HH Electronics IC100S
Clean headroom and uncolored tone similar to the HH IC100S's clean character
Alternative to: MXR Pitch Transposer chorus effect
Provides subtle vintage-style chorus that mimics the pitch transposer's modulation effect
Alternative to: MXR Pitch Transposer
Modern pitch shifter that can recreate the unique modulation characteristics of the original MXR unit
Alternative to: Full signal chain
Includes clean amp models and chorus effects that can nail this jangly new wave guitar sound
Sources
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