Tone Profile

The lead guitar sound is characterized by its heavily layered, distorted, and modulated texture, creating a dreamy and ethereal shoegaze atmosphere. It's a blend of overdrive, fuzz, and chorus effects, resulting in a thick, swirling, and almost vocal-like quality.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The guitar sound is achieved through a combination of layered guitar tracks, each with slightly different settings on the distortion and modulation effects.
• Kevin Shields is known for his unique tremolo picking technique and unconventional use of effects pedals to create the signature MBV sound.
• Multiple amplifiers may have been used and blended in the mix to create a fuller sound.

Recreation Tips

• Start with a clean Fender Jazzmaster or similar guitar with single-coil pickups.
• Use a ProCo RAT for heavy distortion or fuzz, dialing in a moderate amount of gain.
• Add chorus and reverb using a Yamaha SPX90 or similar multi-effects unit.
• Experiment with different chorus settings and blend multiple takes to achieve a thick, swirling sound.
• Use a Roland Dimension D for subtle stereo widening and thickening of the sound.
• Record multiple guitar tracks, each with slightly different settings on the effects, and pan them in the stereo field to create a sense of width and depth.
• Experiment with different microphone placements and amplifier settings to find the sweet spot for your setup.

Recommended Gear

• Fender Jazzmaster(guitar)
• Vox AC30(amp)
• Shure SM57(mic)
• ProCo RAT(pedal)
• Yamaha SPX90(pedal)
• Roland Dimension D(pedal)