rhythm guitar from “little black submarines” by the black keys | ToneDB
little black submarines
the black keys
rhythm guitar
Tone Profile
The rhythm guitar sound is a raw, slightly fuzzy, and heavily compressed tone, providing a solid and powerful foundation for the song. It has a vintage feel, reminiscent of classic rock tones, but with a modern edge.
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The Story
Dan Auerbach's rhythm guitar tone on 'Little Black Submarines' was built around his Fender Telecaster through a Supro Thunderbolt amp, with the signal shaped by an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi and MXR Micro Amp. The track was recorded at Easy Eye Sound Studio in Nashville and produced by Danger Mouse with engineering by Tchad Blake. The raw, fuzzy compression comes from the combination of the Big Muff's saturation and the Supro amp's natural tube compression, captured with close microphone placement.
Production Credits
Producer: Danger Mouse
Engineer: Tchad Blake
Recorded at: Easy Eye Sound Studio, Nashville, TN
Signal Chain
Instrument: Fender TelecasterShop on Reverb
Amp: Supro ThunderboltShop on Reverb
Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb
Processing: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff PiShop on Reverb, MXR Micro AmpShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Telecaster-style guitar for its bright and cutting sound.
- Use a Supro Thunderbolt amp or similar vintage-style tube amp for natural overdrive.
- Add a Big Muff for fuzz and an MXR Micro Amp for a slight boost to drive the amp harder.
- Experiment with microphone placement to capture the right balance of direct and room sound.
- Use compression in post-production to even out the dynamics and add sustain.
Original Gear
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Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Supro Thunderbolt amp
Current production Supro amp with similar vintage tube character and natural compression as the Thunderbolt
Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Modern reissue of the op-amp Big Muff circuit that provides the heavily compressed fuzz tone
Alternative to: MXR Micro Amp
Current production version of the same clean boost pedal used to push the amp into overdrive
Alternative to: Fender Telecaster
Budget-friendly Telecaster with authentic single-coil pickups that deliver the bright, cutting tone
Alternative to: Full signal chain
Includes vintage Supro-style amp models and classic fuzz pedals for recreating the compressed, fuzzy rhythm tone
Frequently Asked Questions
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