TONEDB

lead guitar from “say it ain't so” by weezer | ToneDB

say it ain't so

weezer

lead guitar

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

The lead guitar tone is a bright, slightly overdriven sound with a touch of chorus, characteristic of 90s alternative rock. It's clear and cutting, providing a melodic lead without being too aggressive.

Gear

Fender Stratocasterinstrument
ReverbSweetwater
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifieramp
ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57microphone
ReverbSweetwater
Boss CE-1processing
Reverb$747Sweetwater

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

The Story

Rivers Cuomo used a Fender Stratocaster through a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier with Boss CE-1 chorus for the lead guitar parts on "Say It Ain't So." The Blue Album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York with producer Ric Ocasek, and the guitar tones were captured with Shure SM57 microphones. The chorus effect was kept subtle to enhance the width of the guitar sound while maintaining the bright, cutting quality characteristic of Cuomo's playing style.

Production Credits

Producer: Ric Ocasek

Engineer: Chris Shaw

Recorded at: Electric Lady Studios, New York City

Signal Chain

Instrument: Fender Stratocaster

Amp: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Microphone: Shure SM57

Processing: Boss CE-1

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Fender Stratocaster and dial in a moderate gain setting on a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier.
  • Position a Shure SM57 close to the speaker cone, slightly off-axis.
  • Add a touch of chorus using a Boss CE-1 or similar chorus pedal, keeping the effect subtle to avoid excessive modulation.
  • Experiment with blending a direct input (DI) signal with the mic'd amp signal for added clarity and punch.

Original Gear

  • Fender Stratocaster(guitar)
  • Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier(amp)
  • Shure SM57(mic)
  • Boss CE-1(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Boss CE-2W Waza Craft Chorus$150-$180

Alternative to: Boss CE-1 Chorus

Recreates the classic CE-1 sound with both vintage and modern voicings, perfect for that subtle 90s chorus width

ReverbSweetwater
Mesa/Boogie Rectifier Reborn Plugin$60-$80

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Official Mesa plugin that captures the exact Dual Rectifier tone used on the album at a fraction of the cost

ReverbSweetwater
Squier Classic Vibe 90s Stratocaster$400-$450

Alternative to: Fender Stratocaster

Delivers authentic Strat single-coil brightness and clarity for that cutting lead tone on a budget

ReverbSweetwater
Boss JM-1 JamMan$130-$150

Alternative to: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

Provides high-gain Mesa-style distortion in pedal format for those using smaller amps

ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57 Microphone

Still the industry standard dynamic mic, unchanged since the 90s and perfect for capturing guitar amps

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!