Riff Tone

Off the Record

My Morning Jacket

Guitarrock2000s

Original Gear

GuitarGibson ES-335

AmpFender Twin Reverb (blackface, vintage or reissue)

PickupsGibson humbuckers (stock, likely '57 Classics or similar)

Amp Settings

gain5

bass6

mid6.5

treble6.5

reverb3

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 2005 (Z album sessions). Jim James is documented using his ES-335 straight into a Fender Twin Reverb for core rhythm tones, with minimal pedal use. Sources and interviews emphasize a direct guitar-to-amp approach for the main riff, with little to no pedal involvement except possibly for subtle amp reverb.

Tone Character(10)

open and airyedge-of-breakup crunchwarm and dynamicslightly grittyarticulate and percussivetouch-sensitivenot heavily compressedclear note separationorganic amp-driven breakupminimal pedal coloration

Difficulty

The riff requires intermediate skill due to its syncopated rhythm, need for precise picking, and dynamic control to keep the amp just at the edge of breakup without muddying the notes.

Sources

My Morning Jacket: Gymnasium Americana - Premier Guitar My Morning Jacket: Childlike Wonder - Premier Guitar

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