Riff Tone

The Way You'd Love Her

Mac DeMarco

Guitarrock2010s+

Original Gear

GuitarFender Squier Stratocaster (likely Japanese-made, 1970s style, as used by Mac DeMarco on studio recordings in this era)

AmpFender Twin Reverb (mid-to-late 1970s, master volume model)

PickupsStock single-coil Stratocaster pickups

Amp Settings

gain3.5

bass6

mid6

treble6.5

reverb5.5

presence5

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 2015. Mac DeMarco is known for using a Japanese Squier Stratocaster and a 1970s Fender Twin Reverb with master volume for his signature tones. No evidence of pedals used in the studio for this song; amp reverb is a key part of the sound. Mac is vocal about rarely using pedals in the studio and relying on amp reverb and tape saturation. No evidence of chorus or other modulation effects on the riff section.

Tone Character(10)

jangly and brightslightly gritty cleanwarm and smoothclear single-coil articulationamp-driven breakuplush spring reverbvintage shimmertouch of compressiondynamic and responsivenot heavily saturated

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, syncopated strumming and clean single-coil articulation, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages. Dynamic control is important to maintain the edge-of-breakup tone without excessive distortion.

Sources

early mac and his twin reverb (and pedal usage) : r/macdemarco Mac DeMarco Thinks Pedals Are Crap - The Gear Page

This tone has been researched 2 times by the community

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