rhythm guitar from “god save the queen” by sex pistols | ToneDB
god save the queen
sex pistols
rhythm guitar
Tone Profile
A raw and aggressive guitar tone, characterized by a trebly, buzzing distortion, reflecting the band's rebellious energy.
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The Story
Steve Jones' guitar tone on "God Save the Queen" was recorded at Wessex Sound Studios with producer Chris Thomas and engineer Bill Price. The aggressive, trebly sound was achieved using a Gibson Les Paul through a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal into a Fender Twin Reverb amplifier, close-mic'd with a Sennheiser MD421 microphone.
Production Credits
Producer: Chris Thomas
Engineer: Bill Price
Recorded at: Wessex Sound Studios, London
Signal Chain
Instrument: Gibson Les PaulShop on Reverb
Amp: Fender Twin ReverbShop on Reverb
Microphone: Sennheiser MD 421Shop on Reverb
Processing: Pro Co RATShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender Twin Reverb amp as your base.
- Use a Pro Co RAT distortion pedal to achieve the signature buzzsaw distortion.
- Experiment with the RAT's distortion and filter knobs to find the sweet spot for that cutting tone.
- Consider using a Sennheiser MD 421 microphone for recording, positioning it close to the speaker cone for a direct and punchy sound.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Pro Co RAT distortion pedal
Current production version of the original RAT that provides the same buzzsaw distortion character essential to this tone
Alternative to: Fender Twin Reverb amplifier
Modern reissue that delivers the clean headroom and pristine platform needed to showcase the RAT's aggressive distortion
Alternative to: Gibson Les Paul guitar
Budget-friendly Les Paul with humbucker pickups that provides the thick foundation tone at a fraction of the Gibson price
Alternative to: Complete signal chain
Includes high-quality RAT-style distortion models and Twin Reverb amp simulation for achieving this tone in the box
Alternative to: Sennheiser MD421 microphone
Industry standard dynamic mic that captures aggressive guitar tones with similar punch and clarity as the MD421
Frequently Asked Questions
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