Tone Profile

A clean, shimmering, and warm arpeggiated electric guitar tone with a prominent chorus effect, providing a melancholic yet articulate foundation for the song.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The Yamaha AES1500's semi-hollow body contributes to the tone's warmth and resonance, suiting the arpeggiated part.
• A Matchless Chieftain amplifier, known for its articulate clean tones and chime, likely provided the base sound.
• The Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble is a key ingredient, delivering the signature swirling modulation and stereo width.
• A common studio technique of blending microphones, such as a Royer R-121 for warmth and a Shure SM57 for clarity and bite, was likely employed.
• The arpeggiated guitar part is performed with distinct, even dynamics.
• The part might have been double-tracked or processed with stereo chorus to enhance its presence in the mix.

Recreation Tips

• Use a semi-hollow electric guitar (like an ES-335 type) or a solid-body guitar with warm-sounding humbuckers, favoring the neck pickup.
• Dial in a very clean amplifier tone with ample headroom. Boutique clean amps (Matchless, Vox AC30 Top Boost channel on low gain) or clean Fender amp models work well.
• A vintage-style analog chorus pedal is essential. Models like the Boss CE-1, Boss CE-2W, or TC Electronic SCF are good choices. Set for a moderate speed and depth to avoid overpowering the core tone.
• Add a subtle plate or hall reverb for ambience and to give the guitar its own space in the mix.
• Practice the arpeggiated picking pattern meticulously, focusing on evenness, clarity, and consistent dynamics across all strings.
• Consider using a light touch of compression before the chorus pedal to help even out the arpeggios if your picking dynamics tend to vary.

Original Gear

• Yamaha AES1500(guitar)
• Matchless Chieftain(amp)
• Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble(pedal)
• Boss CE-2W Waza Craft Chorus(pedal)
• Royer R-121(mic)
• Shure SM57(mic)
• Mesa/Boogie Mark IV (Clean Channel)(amp)

Substitutions & Recommendations