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rhythm guitar from “i won't back down” by tom petty | ToneDB

i won't back down

tom petty

rhythm guitar

70% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A clean, slightly overdriven rhythm guitar sound with a warm, present character. It has a slight twang and bite, indicative of a vintage amplifier.

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The Story

Mike Campbell used a Rickenbacker 660/12 twelve-string guitar for the rhythm guitar parts on "I Won't Back Down," which contributes to the song's characteristic jangly, full sound. The recording was produced by Jeff Lynne and engineered by Bill Bottrell at Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles. The clean but slightly overdriven tone suggests the use of a Vox AC30 amplifier, known for its chimey character and harmonic richness when pushed to the edge of breakup.

Production Credits

Producer: Jeff Lynne

Engineer: Bill Bottrell

Recorded at: Rumbo Recorders, Los Angeles

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Rickenbacker or similar guitar with bright pickups.
  • Use a Vox AC30 amp model, or set a tube amp for edge-of-breakup clean tone.
  • Use chorus to thicken the sound.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Epiphone Casino 12-StringShop on Reverb$600-$800

Alternative to: Rickenbacker 660/12

Provides the jangly 12-string sound with bright pickups at a more accessible price point than vintage Rickenbackers

Vox AC30C2Shop on Reverb$1,000-$1,200

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Current production version of the classic AC30 with the same chimey character and edge-of-breakup tone

Universal Audio Dream '65 Reverb AmpPlugin Boutique$150-$300

Alternative to: Vox AC30

While based on Fender amps, can achieve similar clean-to-slightly-driven tones with proper EQ and overdrive modeling

Boss CE-2W Chorus EnsembleShop on Reverb$150-$180

Alternative to: Rickenbacker 660/12

Can thicken a standard 6-string guitar tone to approximate some of the fullness of a 12-string

Vox AC15C1Shop on Reverb$500-$600

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Smaller, more affordable version with similar Vox chime and EL84 tube character as the AC30

Sources

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