Tone Profile

A raw and aggressive rhythm guitar tone with a distinct fuzz-like distortion, providing the driving force behind the song. It's a quintessential mid-60s rock sound, characterized by its energetic and slightly chaotic edge.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The Kinks achieved this signature sound by slashing the speaker cone of their Elpico amplifier, creating a distorted tone.
• Ray Davies has mentioned using a small green amplifier. The Elpico amp was a converted PA amp, known for its small size and unique sound when overdriven.
• The recording was likely done with minimal processing, capturing the raw sound of the amp and guitar.

Recreation Tips

• To recreate this tone, start with a vintage-style hollow-body guitar like a Harmony Meteor or similar model.
• Use a small, vintage tube amp, such as an Elpico AC83, or a modern boutique amp designed to replicate that sound.
• Experiment with overdriving the amp to achieve the desired level of distortion.
• If you don't want to slash your speaker cone, use an overdrive or fuzz pedal to mimic the sound of a damaged speaker.
• Keep the EQ relatively flat, focusing on the midrange frequencies to capture the amp's natural tone.

Recommended Gear

• Harmony Meteor(guitar)
• Elpico AC83(amp)