Guitar tone · other, rock

Mac DeMarco guitar tone: gear & amp settings

The gear and amp settings behind 28 Mac DeMarco songs, researched from rig rundowns, interviews and gear forums. The rig that shows up most: Fender Stratocaster into Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus.

Guitars Mac DeMarco used

Fender Stratocaster5 songs
Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Squier, 1970s style, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era)2 songs
Squier Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, early 2000s)1 song
Teisco/Teisco-style guitar (likely 1960s Japanese model, white oval pickups)1 song
Fender Squier Stratocaster (likely Japanese-made, 1970s style, as used by Mac DeMarco on studio recordings in this era)1 song
1970s Fender Stratocaster (Japanese Squier, modded bridge, single-coil pickups)1 song
Fender Telecaster1 song
Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese Squier or similar, as used by Mac DeMarco on '2')1 song

Amps Mac DeMarco used

Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus8 songs
Fender Twin Reverb2 songs
Fender Silverface Vibro Champ2 songs
Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s, 10-inch speaker)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (likely Silverface, early 1970s)1 song
Fender Twin Reverb (mid-to-late 1970s, master volume model)1 song
Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, 1970s, 8- or 10-inch speaker, spring reverb)1 song
Fender Silverface Vibro Champ (1970s)1 song

39 Mac DeMarco tones

Song	Part	Guitar	Amp	Gain
Freaking Out the Neighborhood · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Japanese Stratocaster (likely 1970s/80s reissue, as used by Mac DeMarco on '2')	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3
My Kind of Woman · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese Squier or similar, as used by Mac DeMarco on '2')	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most likely, based on era and signature sound, though not 100% confirmed for this track)	0
No Other Heart · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Squier, 1970s style, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most commonly cited for 'Another One' era studio recordings, including 'No Other Heart')	3
Chamber of Reflection · riff	Riff · clean	Heit Electric Guitar	Fender Silverface Vibro Champ	0
Moonlight on the River · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese Squier or Fender, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era)	Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue 1x12 Combo Amplifier	0
My Kind of Woman · solo	Solo · clean	Silvertone 1448	1970s Fender Silverface Twin Reverb	2.5
Still Beating · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Squier, 1970s style, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era)	Fender Silverface Vibro Champ (1970s, studio recording amp for 'This Old Dog' era, also possibly Fender Silverface Twin Reverb for some tracks)	0
The Way You'd Love Her · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Squier Stratocaster (likely Japanese-made, 1970s style, as used by Mac DeMarco on studio recordings in this era)	Fender Twin Reverb (mid-to-late 1970s, master volume model)	3.5
20180702 2 · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Telecaster	Fender Silverface Vibro Champ (1970s)	0
20191009 I Like Her · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese Squier JV or similar, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most likely, based on Mac DeMarco's studio rig for this era and genre)	0
20200817 Proud True Toyota · riff	Riff · clean	1960s Teisco Electric Guitar	Fender Twin Reverb (60-watt combo, silverface or blackface era likely)	0
Another One · riff	Riff · clean	1970s Fender Stratocaster	Fender Silverface Vibro Champ	0
At Ron's Bris · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or vintage, as per Mac DeMarco's typical studio use for this era)	Fender Vibro Champ (studio recording amp, as stated by Mac DeMarco for album work in this period)	0
brother · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Cooking Up Something Good · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Squier Stratocaster (likely Japanese-made, early 2000s, as used by Mac DeMarco on '2')	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Dreaming · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
For the First Time · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Freaking Out the Neighborhood · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Japanese Squier Stratocaster (mid-90s, modded bridge pickup)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3.5
Freaking Out the Neighborhood · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Squier Stratocaster (Japanese, 1970s/80s, modded bridge pickup)	Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s)	4
Freaking Out the Neighborhood · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Mustang (likely Japanese, 1970s, as used on '2' album sessions)	Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, 1970s, used in studio for '2')	4
Go Easy · riff	Riff · clean	Squier Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, early 2000s)	Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s, 10-inch speaker)	0
Goodbye Weekend · riff	Riff · clean	Vintage Fender Stratocaster (modded, tone and volume controls removed)	Fender Vibro-Champ (studio recording amp for Salad Days era)	3.5
Heart to Heart · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster	Fender Twin Reverb	0
Let Her Go · riff	Riff · clean	1970s Fender Stratocaster (Japanese Squier, modded bridge, single-coil pickups)	Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, 1970s, 8- or 10-inch speaker, spring reverb)	0
Me and Mine · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Squier, early 2010s era)	Fender Twin Reverb (silverface or reissue, used in studio and live during this era)	0
Moonlight on the River · solo	Solo · distorted	Fender Squier Stratocaster (Japanese, 1970s, modded bridge pickup but likely neck or middle used for solo)	Fender Vibro Champ (studio recording, mic'd and run into Roland KC-550 keyboard amp as monitor)	4
Moonlight on the River · riff	Riff · distorted	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most commonly used by Mac DeMarco for studio recordings in this era)	3
My Kind of Woman lead · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Squier Stratocaster (likely Japanese, early 2000s, as used by Mac DeMarco on '2')	Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, tube combo, used in studio for '2')	0
My Kind of Woman lead part · solo	Solo · clean	Teisco/Teisco-style guitar (likely 1960s Japanese model, white oval pickups)	Fender Twin Reverb (likely Silverface, early 1970s)	3.5
My Kind of Woman lead part · riff	Riff · clean	1970s Fender Stratocaster (heavily modified, single coil in neck position, direct to jack wiring)	Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, early 1970s, studio recording)	2.5
No Other Heart · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster	Fender Twin Reverb	0
No Other Heart · clean	Clean · clean	Fender Precision Bass (likely Japanese or Mexican, passive, 1970s/80s reissue)	Roland JC-120 (used for clean guitar, but Mac often DI's bass or uses small solid-state amps; no evidence of Ampeg/Fender tube amp on this track)	0
Nobody · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (exact year/model not specified, but Strat is confirmed as Mac's main guitar for this era and style)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	0
Ode to Viceroy · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Squier Stratocaster (Japanese, 1970s-style)	Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, late 1970s)	3.5
Ode to Viceroy · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese Squier, 1970s style, as used on '2')	Fender Twin Reverb (silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s, used in studio for '2')	0
One Another · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Mustang (vintage, likely Japanese-made, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era)	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (studio), possibly Fender Vibro-Champ or Twin Reverb as alternates	0
Still Beating · solo	Solo · clean	Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Squier, vintage-style single coils, hardtail bridge)	Fender Twin Reverb (silverface, 1970s/1980s era, studio use)	0
The Stars Keep On Calling My Name · riff	Riff · clean	Squier Stratocaster (likely Japanese, 1970s/80s model, as used by Mac DeMarco on '2')	Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus	3
Without Me · riff	Riff · clean	Fender Musicmaster Bass (used as a guitar, 6-string variant)	Fender Bronco (Silverface, late 60s/early 70s, combo amp)	0

Mac DeMarco songs on popular amps

Exact settings ToneAdapt players use for these songs on their own amps.

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Frequently asked questions

What amp did Mac DeMarco use?

Across 28 researched songs, the amps that come up most are Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (8 songs), Fender Twin Reverb (2 songs), Fender Silverface Vibro Champ (2 songs), Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s, 10-inch speaker) (1 song).

What guitar did Mac DeMarco use?

Most often: Fender Stratocaster (5 songs), Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Squier, 1970s style, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era) (2 songs), Squier Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, early 2000s) (1 song), Teisco/Teisco-style guitar (likely 1960s Japanese model, white oval pickups) (1 song).

How do I get Mac DeMarco's tone on my amp?

Open any Mac DeMarco song below to see the original gear and settings, then use ToneAdapt to adapt them to your own guitar, amp, pickups and pedals.