Solo Tone

Kid Charlemagne (2025 Remaster)

Steely Dan

Guitarrock1970s

Original Gear

Guitar1971 Gibson ES-335

AmpFender Princeton Reverb (blackface, early 1970s)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, early 1970s)

Amp Settings

gain4.5

bass5.5

mid7

treble7

reverb3.5

presence5.5

Effects & Signal Chain

distortionMXR MXR Distortion+

compressionMXR MXR Dyna Comp

delayMaestro Echoplex EP-3

Notes

Studio recording, 1975-76 for Steely Dan's 'The Royal Scam' album. Larry Carlton played the solo. Gear confirmed by multiple interviews and forum discussions. Pedals inferred from era and Carlton's known studio rig for this session.

Tone Character(10)

singing sustainsmooth and compressedarticulate and expressivetouch-sensitiveclear note separationslightly gritty edgewarm and rounded midrangefast attackcontrolled sustainsubtle amp breakup

Difficulty

The solo is technically demanding due to its fast, intricate phrasing, advanced picking techniques, and expressive dynamics, requiring a high level of control and musicality.

Sources

OD/Fuzz/Distortion on Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne"?Steely Dan--Kid Charlemagne (solo) - Walker Guitar Lessons Steely Dan – Kid Charlemagne solo analysis.

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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