Riff Tone

For the First Time

Mac DeMarco

Guitarother2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster

AmpRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus

PickupsFender single-coil pickups (stock or vintage-style, exact model unknown)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass6

mid6

treble6

reverb5.5

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

chorusBoss Boss CE-2 Chorus

Notes

Studio recording, 2017 (This Old Dog album). Gear confirmed for Mac's signature clean/chorus tone. Fender Stratocaster with middle pickup into Roland JC-120. Chorus and reverb effects are essential for the dreamy, warbly sound. No evidence of distortion or overdrive pedals for this riff section.

Tone Character(10)

glassy and cleanwarm and vintagemellow and rounddreamy and warblysubtle modulationslightly detuned chorus shimmerclear, jangly single-coil soundlush ambiencenot overly brightno grit or crunch

Difficulty

The riff is straightforward with simple chord shapes and slow tempo, but requires clean playing, subtle muting, and dynamic control to capture the dreamy, warbly feel.

Sources

Mac DeMarco Amp Settings (gear and tone tips) - Guitar Chalk

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