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rhythm guitar from “under the pressure” by the war on drugs | ToneDB

under the pressure

the war on drugs

rhythm guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

This rhythm guitar sound is characterized by its shimmering, atmospheric quality, providing a bed of modulated textures that underpins the song's driving energy. It’s a blend of subtle overdrive, chorus, and reverb, creating a sense of spaciousness and movement.

Gear

Fender Telecasterinstrument
ReverbSweetwater
Vox AC30amp
ReverbSweetwater
Neumann U87microphone
ReverbSweetwater
MXR Phase 90processing
ReverbSweetwater
Electro-Harmonix Memory Manprocessing
ReverbSweetwater

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The Story

The War on Drugs' Adam Granduciel used a Fender Telecaster through a Vox AC30 amplifier to create the shimmering rhythm guitar sound on "Under the Pressure." The signal chain included an MXR Phase 90 and Electro-Harmonix Memory Man delay, recorded by engineer Jeff Zeigler at Uniform Recording in Philadelphia. The recording approach combined close-microphone placement with room mics to capture both the direct amp sound and ambient reflections. Multiple guitar layers were used to build the full, atmospheric texture that characterizes the song.

Production Credits

Producer: Adam Granduciel

Engineer: Jeff Zeigler

Recorded at: Uniform Recording (Philadelphia)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Telecaster

Amp: Vox AC30

Microphone: Neumann U87

Processing: MXR Phase 90, Electro-Harmonix Memory Man

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a clean amp tone with a slight breakup to capture the edge of overdrive.
  • Experiment with different chorus and delay settings to find the right balance of depth and space.
  • Use a combination of close and room microphones to capture both the direct and ambient sound of the amplifier.
  • Consider layering multiple guitar tracks with slightly different settings to create a fuller sound.

Original Gear

  • Fender Telecaster(guitar)
  • Vox AC30(amp)
  • Neumann U87(mic)
  • MXR Phase 90(pedal)
  • Electro-Harmonix Memory Man(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Boss AC-2 Acoustic Simulator$100-$130

Alternative to: Vox AC30 amplifier

Provides the AC30's chiming clean tones and edge-of-breakup character in pedal format for the shimmering foundation

ReverbSweetwater
MXR Phase 90$80-$100

Alternative to: MXR Phase 90

The exact same phaser used on the original recording, still manufactured and essential for the swirling modulation

ReverbSweetwater
Strymon El Capistan$280-$320

Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Memory Man

Delivers the warm, analog-style delay character of the Memory Man with more precise control for recreating the atmospheric depth

ReverbSweetwater
Universal Audio Lion$150-$200

Alternative to: Vox AC30 amplifier

Digital recreation of the AC30's tube saturation and chime, perfect for capturing the amp's response in a recording setup

ReverbSweetwater
TC Electronic Flashback 2$120-$150

Alternative to: Electro-Harmonix Memory Man

Budget-friendly option that includes analog-style delay algorithms similar to the Memory Man's warm repeats

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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