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lead guitar from “charley's girl” by lou reed | ToneDB

charley's girl

lou reed

lead guitar

78% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A bright, slightly gritty lead tone characterized by a prominent swirling phaser and a choppy, rhythmic tremolo effect. The sound is articulate and cuts through the mix with a vintage, slightly woozy character.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson ES-335 (or similar semi-hollow body guitar with humbuckers)

Amp: Fender Twin Reverb (or similar Fender blackface/silverface amp)

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: MXR Phase 90 (or similar analog phaser), Amp's built-in tremolo (or a tremolo pedal like Boss TR-2)

Other: Lead guitar is panned noticeably to one side (often right in stereo mixes). Close mic placement on the amp. The tremolo effect is quite pronounced and rhythmic.

Recording Notes

  • The album 'Coney Island Baby' was recorded in 1975 at Mediasound Studios, New York City.
  • The lead guitar has a relatively dry sound, without excessive reverb or delay.
  • The modulation effects (phaser and tremolo) are integral to the lead guitar's identity on this track.
  • The guitar part itself is melodic and features some double-stops.

Recreation Tips

  • Use the bridge or middle pickup position on your guitar for a brighter, cutting tone.
  • Set the phaser to a slow to medium speed with moderate depth to achieve the swirling effect without it becoming overwhelming.
  • For the tremolo, aim for a relatively fast speed and a high depth to get a choppy, rhythmic pulse. If using an amp's tremolo, experiment with the intensity and speed controls. A square wave tremolo might get closer to the choppy sound.
  • Keep the amp relatively clean, with just enough gain to add a slight grit or breakup when you dig in with the pick.
  • Ensure the tremolo and phaser are distinct in the mix; they are key components of this sound.
  • Consider panning your lead guitar track slightly to one side if mixing.

Sources