Solo Tone

Freaking Out the Neighborhood

Mac DeMarco

Guitarrock2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarFender Squier Stratocaster (Japanese, 1970s/80s, modded bridge pickup)

AmpFender Vibro Champ (silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s)

PickupsSingle-coil (stock neck/middle, unknown humbucker or single-coil in bridge, likely ceramic magnet)

Amp Settings

gain4

bass6

mid6

treble7

reverb5

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

flangerAlesis Alesis Microverb 4

Notes

Studio recording, 2012 album '2'. Mac DeMarco is confirmed to have used a Squier Stratocaster and a Fender Vibro Champ for the album. Effects are primarily from rack units and pedals, not amp built-ins. Solo section likely used bridge pickup for sharper attack. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this solo.

Tone Character(10)

bright and glassyslightly gritty edge-of-breakupmodulated and swirlingjangly and percussiveclear single-coil articulationdynamic and touch-sensitivedistinct flanger sweepspringy ambiencenot heavily saturatedopen and airy

Difficulty

The solo requires intermediate-level control of picking dynamics and timing to interact with the flanger modulation, but does not involve advanced speed or complex techniques.

Sources

Mac Demarco's Guitar Tone - Reddit Mac DeMarco's Guitar Gear - Equipboard Freaking out the Neighborhood rhythm guitar amp and flanger settings

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