TONEDB

lead guitar from “hot child in the city” by nick gilder | ToneDB

hot child in the city

nick gilder

lead guitar

70% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A bright, cutting, and slightly nasal late-70s rock lead tone, characterized by a prominent 'fixed-wah' sound giving it a vocal quality and singing sustain.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Late 1970s Gibson Les Paul Standard or Custom (likely with stock humbuckers)

Amp: Marshall JMP 50W (2204) or 100W (1959 Super Lead) head with a Marshall 4x12 cabinet (Celestion G12M Greenbacks or G12H30 speakers)

Microphone: Shure SM57 (close-mic'd on one speaker), possibly blended with a Neumann U87 or Sennheiser MD421 for more body/room

Processing: Wah pedal (e.g., Vox V846, Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95) used in a fixed, partially engaged position (likely mid-to-toe down), Studio plate reverb (moderate amount), Short tape delay (subtle, for space and thickness)

Other: The amp was likely pushed to achieve natural tube overdrive. The key to the tone is the wah pedal being used as a static filter to emphasize specific mid/high frequencies, creating the distinctive nasal, vocal character. Guitar volume and tone knobs likely used for dynamic control.

Recording Notes

  • The lead guitar, played by James McCulloch, is a focal point of the song, especially the solo.
  • The 'cocked wah' or 'fixed filter' sound is integral to the lead parts.
  • Likely recorded in a professional studio environment typical of the late 1970s.
  • Studio compression might have been used on the guitar track to even out dynamics and enhance sustain.
  • The lead guitar is panned slightly off-center in the stereo mix.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a humbucker-equipped guitar like a Les Paul or SG.
  • Dial in a crunchy, bright tone on a Marshall-style amplifier or a high-quality amp modeler.
  • The crucial element is the 'cocked wah' effect. Engage a wah pedal and find a sweet spot (often slightly toe-down, emphasizing upper-mids around 800Hz-1.5kHz) and leave it there. Alternatively, use a parametric EQ with a significant boost in this frequency range or a dedicated filter pedal.
  • Add a moderate amount of plate-style reverb and a subtle short delay for ambience and sustain.
  • Consider a very subtle phaser (like an MXR Phase 90) if you want a hint more movement, but it's not overtly present in the original.
  • Focus on expressive playing with smooth bends and vibrato, as this complements the vocal quality of the tone.
  • Experiment with your guitar's volume and tone controls to shape the sound further.

Sources