Tone Profile

A quintessential Noel Gallagher lead tone: bright, crunchy, and articulate with a distinct British rock character, driven by humbuckers into a pushed Marshall amp with subtle delay.

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Recorded for the album 'Heathen Chemistry', released in 2002.
• Noel Gallagher's guitar tones from this era are typically straightforward, relying on the natural sound of the guitar and a cranked British valve amp.
• The lead guitar parts are often prominent and carry significant melodic weight in Oasis songs.
• Minimal studio post-processing on the core guitar tone is expected, focusing on capturing a good sound at the source.

Recreation Tips

• Use a humbucker-equipped guitar; a semi-hollow body like a Gibson ES-355/ES-335 or a solid body like a Les Paul is ideal. Select the bridge pickup.
• Employ a Marshall-style amplifier (JCM800, JCM900, Plexi, or quality emulations). Set it to a moderate crunch or edge-of-breakup.
• Use an overdrive pedal (like a Tube Screamer) with the gain set low and the level high to push the front end of the amp into more saturation and sustain, rather than adding pedal distortion.
• Add a subtle digital or analog delay. Aim for a short delay time with minimal feedback, just enough to add a sense of space and slight sustain without being overtly noticeable.
• Dial in the amp EQ with a healthy amount of midrange and treble to cut through the mix. Avoid scooping the mids.
• Pick with confidence and articulation; Noel's playing style is direct and impactful.

Recommended Gear

• Gibson ES-355 or Epiphone Sheraton II Pro(guitar)
• Marshall JCM900 4100(amp)
• Marshall 1960A/B Cabinet(amp)
• Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer(pedal)
• Boss DD-3 Digital Delay (or Boss DD-8)(pedal)
• Shure SM57(mic)