rhythm guitar from “gimme shelter” by the rolling stones | ToneDB
gimme shelter
the rolling stones
rhythm guitar
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.
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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-335Shop on Reverb
Amp: Ampeg VT-40Shop on Reverb
Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb
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
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Substitutions & Recommendations
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
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
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
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
Alternative to: Olympic Studios chain
Adds the analog tape saturation and compression that would have been present in the original Olympic Studios recording chain
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