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lead guitar from “there is a light that never goes out” by the smiths | ToneDB

there is a light that never goes out

the smiths

lead guitar

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A clean, jangly guitar tone with a touch of reverb, creating a melancholic and atmospheric sound. It's bright and clear, yet slightly subdued to fit the song's wistful mood.

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The Story

Johnny Marr used a Fender Telecaster through a Roland JC-120 for this track, recorded at Amazon Studios in Liverpool with producer John Porter. The Roland JC-120's built-in chorus effect was a key component of Marr's signature jangly sound throughout The Smiths catalog. The clean, crystalline tone of the JC-120 combined with the Telecaster's bright character created the song's distinctive atmospheric guitar sound.

Production Credits

Producer: John Porter

Engineer: Unknown

Recorded at: Amazon Studios, Liverpool

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Fender Telecaster-style guitar for its bright and clear tone.
  • Use the Roland JC-120's clean channel and chorus effect to emulate the original sound.
  • Experiment with slight compression to even out the dynamics without sacrificing clarity.
  • Add a touch of plate reverb to create a spacious and atmospheric feel.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Squier Classic Vibe '70s Telecaster ThinlineShop on Reverb$400-$450

Alternative to: Fender Telecaster

Delivers the essential Telecaster brightness and clarity for Marr's jangly tone at an accessible price point

Roland JC-40Shop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Roland JC-120

Features the same Jazz Chorus circuit and built-in chorus as the JC-120 but in a more compact format

Boss JB-2 Angry DriverShop on Reverb$150-$180

Alternative to: Roland JC-120

When used on clean settings, provides the compression and midrange clarity characteristic of the JC-120's preamp section

Boss CE-2W Waza Craft ChorusShop on Reverb$180-$200

Alternative to: Roland JC-120 chorus

Recreates the vintage chorus circuit that inspired the JC-120's built-in effect, essential for Marr's sound

Neural DSP Archetype: CleanPlugin Boutique$100-$120

Alternative to: Roland JC-120

Includes accurate JC-120 modeling with built-in chorus and reverb effects for studio recreation

Sources

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