Tone Profile

A famously bright, jangly, and heavily compressed acoustic guitar tone that sits forward in the mix. It's percussive and shimmering, creating a massive rhythmic 'wall of sound'.

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The defining feature is the capo placed on the 2nd fret, which raises the pitch and contributes to the song's signature brightness.
• Aggressive, fast-attack compression is applied post-recording, squashing the dynamics to create a consistent, dense texture and emphasizing the pick attack.
• The final sound is a blend of a close-mic'd signal (capturing the 'air' and string detail) and a DI signal (providing a solid low-end foundation).
• The performance involves a hard, consistent strumming pattern with a medium-gauge pick to drive the sound.
• Multiple identical acoustic guitar parts are layered (double-tracked or triple-tracked) to achieve the immense 'wall of sound' effect.

Recreation Tips

• Use a jumbo-style acoustic guitar and place a capo on the 2nd fret.
• The most crucial element is heavy compression. Use a plugin or pedal that emulates a UREI 1176 with a fast attack, fast release, and a high ratio (4:1 or 8:1).
• Use an EQ to boost the high frequencies (around 8-12kHz) to add 'jangle' and 'air', and make a cut in the low-mids (around 250-400Hz) to remove muddiness.
• If recording, blend a signal from a condenser microphone pointed at the 12th fret with a clean DI signal from the guitar's pickup.
• Strum firmly and consistently. Record the same part twice and pan the tracks slightly left and right for a wider, fuller sound.

Recommended Gear

• Gibson J-200(guitar)
• Epiphone EJ-200(guitar)
• Neumann U87(mic)
• UREI 1176(preamp)
• Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Collection(pedal)