lead guitar from “smooth” by santana | ToneDB
smooth
santana
lead guitar
Tone Profile
The lead guitar tone is smooth, warm, and singing, with a clear, sustained quality and a touch of overdrive. It's designed to be melodic and expressive, fitting the Latin-infused rock style.
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The Story
Carlos Santana's lead guitar tone on "Smooth" was recorded using his signature PRS guitar through a Mesa/Boogie Mark I amplifier, with an Ibanez Tube Screamer providing additional sustain and midrange boost. The track was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley with producer Matt Serletic and engineer Andrew Zammit. The setup was close-miked with a Shure SM57, and a Lexicon PCM42 was used for delay effects to add depth to the singing, sustained tone.
Production Credits
Producer: Matt Serletic
Engineer: Andrew Zammit
Recorded at: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA
Signal Chain
Instrument: PRS Santana SignatureShop on Reverb
Amp: Mesa/Boogie Mark IShop on Reverb
Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb
Processing: Ibanez Tube ScreamerShop on Reverb, Lexicon PCM42Shop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a PRS-style guitar with humbuckers for a similar base tone.
- Use a Mesa/Boogie Mark series amp or an amp modeler with similar characteristics.
- An Ibanez Tube Screamer or similar overdrive pedal can help achieve the singing sustain.
- Experiment with delay to add dimension and depth to the sound.
- Adjust EQ to emphasize the midrange frequencies for a clear and cutting tone.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: PRS Santana Signature
Modern version of Santana's signature guitar with the same humbucker configuration and 24.5" scale length that produces his characteristic warm, singing tone
Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark I
Modern Mark series amp that captures the singing sustain and warm overdrive character of the original Mark I in a more compact format
Alternative to: Ibanez Tube Screamer
Current production version of the same overdrive pedal that provides the midrange boost and singing sustain essential to Santana's lead tone
Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Mark I
Includes accurate Mesa/Boogie Mark series amp modeling with similar gain structure and tonal characteristics for the warm, singing lead tone
Alternative to: Lexicon PCM42
High-quality tape echo emulation that can recreate the subtle delay and modulation that adds depth to Santana's lead tone
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