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Fortunate Son — Creedence Clearwater Revival1 / 2
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Fortunate Son Guitar Tone Settings — Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival · 1960s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
1969 Rickenbacker 325
Pickups
Rickenbacker single-coil pickups
Amp
Kustom K200A-4 (solid-state, 100W, 2x12 cab with JBL D130 speakers)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (likely), possibly middle position

Studio recording, 1969. John Fogerty stated he used a Kustom K200A-4 amp for CCR studio work in this era. No evidence of pedals or outboard effects for the riff section; amp's built-in effects (reverb, fuzz, vibrato, etc.) were reportedly not used for this song. Pickup selector likely in bridge or middle position for bright, cutting tone.

Amp Settings

Mids
7
Bass
6
Gain
4.5
Reverb
0.5
Treble
7
Presence
5.5

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Tone Character

  • gritty and throbbing
  • bright and biting attack
  • raw, mid-forward crunch
  • tight and percussive rhythm
  • slightly compressed
  • focused and direct
  • minimal sustain
  • fast note decay
  • aggressive pick attack
  • no audible reverb or delay

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings found in sources; values estimated based on typical Kustom K200A-4 usage for classic rock in late 1960s.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or effects used on the original studio riff; all effects listed in modern Fogerty rigs are for live or post-CCR work.
  • ⚠️Pickup selector position is inferred from tone and typical Fogerty usage, not directly confirmed.
  • ⚠️Some sources mention Fender amps for other CCR recordings, but Fogerty himself confirms Kustom K200A-4 for this era and song.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. John Fogerty used a Gibson ES-175 into a Kustom amp, producing a bright, mid-forward, edge-of-breakup tone typical of late 60s swamp rock. The riff is punchy and clear with minimal reverb, strong mids, and moderate gain, reflecting both the era's production and CCR's signature sound.

Sources