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lead guitar from “maps” by yeah yeah yeahs | ToneDB

maps

yeah yeah yeahs

lead guitar

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A raw, slightly distorted guitar tone with a clear, cutting edge. It's gritty and direct, fitting perfectly within the indie rock context of the song.

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The Story

The lead guitar tone on "Maps" was recorded using Nick Zinner's Fender Telecaster through a Vox AC30 amplifier, captured with a Shure SM57 microphone. The album was recorded at Machines With Magnets in Brooklyn, NY and produced by David Andrew Sitek. The close-miked amp setup delivered the raw, cutting tone that became iconic to the track.

Production Credits

Producer: David Andrew Sitek

Engineer: Alan Moulder

Recorded at: Machines With Magnets, Brooklyn, NY

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Fender Telecaster into a Vox AC30. Experiment with the amp's gain to achieve a similar level of overdrive.
  • Use a Shure SM57 close to the speaker cone to capture the amp's tone.
  • Adjust the amp's EQ to cut through the mix without sounding harsh.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Squier Classic Vibe '50s TelecasterShop on Reverb$400-$450

Alternative to: Fender Telecaster

Budget option with similar single-coil pickups and tonal character as the original Telecaster

Vox AC15C1Shop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Same Vox character and chime but at 15 watts, making it more practical for home recording while retaining the essential AC30 overdrive

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 Vox CollectionPlugin Boutique$100-$150

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Digital recreation of AC30 with accurate modeling of the tube saturation and EQ characteristics for direct recording

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$130

Alternative to: Shure SM57

The exact same microphone used on the original recording, still manufactured and industry standard

Catalinbread Vox AC30 Top BoostShop on Reverb$180-$200

Alternative to: Vox AC30

Captures the AC30's preamp saturation and top boost circuit for use with any clean amp

Sources

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