Tone Profile

A clean, bright, and slightly jangly guitar tone with a touch of spring reverb, reminiscent of early British Invasion sounds. The tone is iconic and instantly recognizable.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The Animals recorded "House of the Rising Sun" in one take at the De Lane Lea Studios in London.
• Hilton Valentine used a Gretsch Tennessean guitar plugged directly into a Vox AC30 amplifier.
• A Watkins Copicat tape echo was used to add depth and a slight reverb effect to the guitar signal.

Recreation Tips

• Start with a Gretsch-style guitar or any semi-hollow body guitar with single-coil pickups.
• Use a Vox AC30 amp model or a similar British-style amp known for its chime and clarity.
• Add a touch of tape echo or a spring reverb plugin to emulate the Watkins Copicat.
• Keep the amp settings relatively clean with minimal overdrive.
• Focus on achieving a bright and jangly tone by adjusting the EQ on the amp and guitar.

Recommended Gear

• Gretsch Tennessean(guitar)
• Vox AC30(amp)
• Watkins Copicat(pedal)