TONEDB

lead guitar from “abracadabra” by lady gaga | ToneDB

abracadabra

lady gaga

lead guitar

68% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A bright, twangy, and heavily reverberant lead guitar tone, evoking classic surf rock and spy movie soundtracks with a clean, articulate, and slightly edgy character.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Jaguar or Jazzmaster

Amp: Fender '65 Twin Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57 (on-axis, close to grille) possibly blended with a Royer R-121 (slightly off-axis)

Processing: Compressor (pedal or studio unit, moderate settings for sustain and evenness), Spring Reverb (from amp, set high for prominent effect), Slapback Delay (subtle, single repeat, tape echo style), EQ (to enhance high-mid frequencies for twang and cut through the mix)

Other: Guitar: Bridge pickup selected, potentially with 'strangle switch' (high-pass filter) engaged if using a Jaguar. Subtle use of the vibrato arm for slight pitch modulation. Amp: Clean channel, volume set for clean headroom with a hint of edge-of-breakup when played hard. Reverb dwell and mix set high.

Recording Notes

  • The guitar part is melodic and plays a key role in the song's retro-futuristic vibe.
  • The tone is characterized by its brightness and prominent spring reverb, creating a spacious and distinctive sound.
  • Dynamics are well-controlled, likely through a combination of playing technique and compression.
  • The specific gear used for this bonus track is not widely documented, so this recreation is based on sonic analysis and common practices for achieving this type of tone.

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a bright-sounding guitar (Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Telecaster, Stratocaster on bridge pickup).
  • Use a Fender-style amplifier known for its clean tones and lush spring reverb (e.g., Twin Reverb, Deluxe Reverb).
  • Dial in a generous amount of spring reverb; this is crucial to the sound.
  • Add a compressor to even out the picking attack and increase sustain.
  • A subtle slapback delay (80-150ms) can add depth without cluttering the sound.
  • Use a clean picking technique, possibly with a thinner pick for more snap.
  • Experiment with the guitar's tone controls and pickup selector to find the sweet spot for brightness and twang.
  • If using plugins, opt for high-quality emulations of vintage Fender amps, spring reverbs, and tape delays.

Sources