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lead guitar from “waterloo sunset” by the kinks | ToneDB

waterloo sunset

the kinks

lead guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

The lead guitar tone is warm, slightly overdriven, with a pronounced midrange that helps it cut through the mix. It has a slightly compressed and sustained quality, contributing to its lyrical and melodic nature.

Gear

Fender Telecasterinstrument
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Vox AC30amp
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Neumann U67microphone
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The Story

The lead guitar tone on "Waterloo Sunset" was recorded by The Kinks at Pye Studios in London with producer Shel Talmy and engineer Alan MacKenzie. The basic setup used a Fender Telecaster into a Vox AC30 amplifier, recorded with a Neumann U67 microphone. The Kinks were experimenting with recording techniques during this period, and it's been documented that they sometimes used a single microphone approach to capture a very cohesive sound across instruments.

Production Credits

Producer: Shel Talmy

Engineer: Alan MacKenzie

Recorded at: Pye Studios (London)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Telecaster

Amp: Vox AC30

Microphone: Neumann U67

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Fender Telecaster into a Vox AC30 amplifier.
  • Use a light overdrive pedal or the amp's natural overdrive to get a slightly crunchy tone.
  • Experiment with microphone placement to find a sweet spot that captures the amp's warmth and character.
  • Consider using a compressor to even out the dynamics and add sustain.
  • If going for the "one mic" approach, experiment with the microphone's position to capture both the guitar amp and the overall room sound.

Original Gear

  • Fender Telecaster(guitar)
  • Vox AC30(amp)
  • Neumann U67(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Fender Player Telecaster$700-$900

Alternative to: Fender Telecaster

Delivers the same bright, cutting tone with strong midrange that defines the Telecaster sound heard on this track

ReverbSweetwater
Vox AC30C2$1800-$2200

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Current production AC30 that maintains the chiming top end and natural tube compression of the original 1960s model

ReverbSweetwater
Vox AC15C1$700-$900

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Lower wattage Vox with similar EL84 tube character and earlier breakup for home recording at manageable volumes

ReverbSweetwater
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5$150-$300

Alternative to: Neumann U67 microphone setup

Includes accurate Vox AC30 and Telecaster modeling for achieving this vintage British recorded guitar sound

ReverbSweetwater
Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe$300-$400

Alternative to: Natural tube compression

1176-style compression that adds the sustain and evenness heard in the original recording

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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