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rhythm guitar from “gimme shelter” by the rolling stones | ToneDB

gimme shelter

the rolling stones

rhythm guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

The rhythm guitar in "Gimme Shelter" features a raw, slightly overdriven tone, providing a menacing backdrop to the song's apocalyptic themes. The sound is gritty and immediate, with a strong emphasis on the midrange.

Gear

Gibson ES-335instrument
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Ampeg VT-40amp
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Neumann U67microphone
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The Story

Keith Richards recorded the rhythm guitar for "Gimme Shelter" using a Gibson ES-335 through an Ampeg VT-40 amplifier at Olympic Studios in London, with Jimmy Miller producing and Glyn Johns engineering. The amp was driven to the edge of breakup to achieve the song's characteristic gritty, overdriven tone that matches the track's ominous atmosphere. The recording captured the raw energy of the performance with minimal overdubs.

Production Credits

Producer: Jimmy Miller

Engineer: Glyn Johns

Recorded at: Olympic Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: Gibson ES-335

Amp: Ampeg VT-40

Microphone: Neumann U67

Recreation Tips

  • Use a semi-hollow guitar like an ES-335 to capture the airy resonance of the original.
  • Set your amp for a slightly overdriven tone, with the gain just past the edge of breakup.
  • Focus on capturing the midrange frequencies to emulate the guitar's presence in the mix.
  • Experiment with different microphone placements to find the sweet spot for your amplifier.

Original Gear

  • Gibson ES-335(guitar)
  • Ampeg VT-40(amp)
  • Neumann U67(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone ES-335$400-$600

Alternative to: Gibson ES-335

Provides the same semi-hollow construction and PAF-style humbuckers that give the airy resonance and midrange punch of Richards' tone at a budget-friendly price

ReverbSweetwater
Fender Blues Junior IV$600-$700

Alternative to: Ampeg VT-40

15-watt tube amp that breaks up naturally at moderate volumes, delivering similar edge-of-breakup overdrive character as the VT-40

ReverbSweetwater
Universal Audio UAFX Ampeg SVT$400-$450

Alternative to: Ampeg VT-40

Digital recreation of classic Ampeg tone in pedal format, allowing you to get that VT-40 character through any clean amp

ReverbSweetwater
Boss Blues Driver BD-2$100-$120

Alternative to: Ampeg VT-40 overdrive

Provides controllable tube-style overdrive that can recreate that edge-of-breakup grit when used with a clean tube amp

ReverbSweetwater
Universal Audio Oxide Tape plugin$150-$200

Alternative to: Olympic Studios chain

Adds the analog tape saturation and compression that would have been present in the original Olympic Studios recording chain

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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