GuitarCleanRiff
Better Man (Guitar / Organ Only) Guitar Tone Settings — Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam · 1990s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (early 1960s, likely '63 or '64, used by Mike McCready)
Pickups
Fender single-coil pickups (vintage spec, stock for early '60s Strat)
Amp
Fender 'Silverface' Super Reverb (1970-1977, 4x10 combo, used in studio for Vitalogy)
Pickup Position
Position 4 (neck + middle)
Studio recording, 1994 (Vitalogy sessions). Mike McCready played the main riff on his early '60s Stratocaster into a Fender Silverface Super Reverb. No evidence of additional pedals or effects for the clean/riff section. Settings are estimated based on period-correct amp and genre. Pickup selector likely in position 4 (neck + middle) for signature chime. No evidence of effects loop or outboard pedals for this section.
Amp Settings
Mids6.5
Bass6
Gain3.5
Reverb3
Treble6.5
Presence5
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Tone Character
- chimey and glassy
- warm and open
- articulate and dynamic
- slight breakup on hard strums
- clear note separation
- classic Fender clean with subtle reverb
- percussive rhythm attack
- airy and uncompressed
- no audible drive or fuzz
- touch-sensitive response