Riff Tone

Moonlight on the River

Mac DeMarco

Guitarother2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarFender Stratocaster (likely Japanese Squier or Fender, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era)

AmpFender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue 1x12 Combo Amplifier

PickupsSingle-coil (stock Stratocaster pickups, likely ceramic or Alnico V)

Amp Settings

gain0

bass6

mid5.5

treble6

reverb6

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

chorusIbanez Ibanez SC-10 Super Stereo Chorus

delayUnknown Delay pedal (likely tape or analog, model unknown)

reverbElectro-Harmonix Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano

Notes

Studio recording, 2016-2017 (This Old Dog album sessions). Gear confirmed for this era and song by multiple sources. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section.

Tone Character(10)

lush and modulateddreamy, ambient washbright but smooth highssoft, rounded attackpronounced spring reverbchorus/vibrato shimmerclear single-coil articulationsubtle tape delay repeatsslightly compressed sustainno audible drive or crunch

Difficulty

The riff requires clean, accurate chord work with subtle dynamics and timing to blend with modulation and delay effects, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages.

Sources

Mac DeMarco's Guitar Gear | Equipboard Mac DeMarco's Guitar Gear | Equipboard effects in moonlight on the river : r/macdemarco I'm trying to figure out how Mac Demarco was able to make ... - Reddit

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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