GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
Freaking Out the Neighborhood Guitar Tone Settings — Mac DeMarco
Mac DeMarco · 2010s+ · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Squier Stratocaster (Japanese, 1970s/80s, modded bridge pickup)
Pickups
Single-coil (stock neck/middle, unknown humbucker or single-coil in bridge, likely ceramic magnet)
Amp
Fender Vibro Champ (silverface, late 1970s/early 1980s)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2012 album '2'. Mac DeMarco is confirmed to have used a Squier Stratocaster and a Fender Vibro Champ for the album. Effects are primarily from rack units and pedals, not amp built-ins. Solo section likely used bridge pickup for sharper attack. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for this solo.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass6
Gain4
Reverb5
Treble7
Presence5
Effects Chain
- Alesis Microverb 4 · flanger
Fender Squier Stratocaster → Alesis Microverb 4 (flanger mode) → Fender Vibro Champ (spring reverb on)
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Tone Character
- bright and glassy
- slightly gritty edge-of-breakup
- modulated and swirling
- jangly and percussive
- clear single-coil articulation
- dynamic and touch-sensitive
- distinct flanger sweep
- springy ambience
- not heavily saturated
- open and airy
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source for exact amp knob settings; values estimated based on typical Vibro Champ settings for Mac DeMarco's tone and era.
- No explicit confirmation of pickup selector for solo, but bridge pickup is strongly inferred from tone and attack.
- Flanger effect is clearly audible in the solo but the exact model is not confirmed; Alesis Microverb 4 is cited as Mac's main modulation source for this album.
- Pedal settings are not available; effect category and likely source are inferred from audio and forum consensus.
- No evidence of additional overdrive/distortion pedals used in the solo section.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mac DeMarco typically uses a solid-state Roland Jazz Chorus or similar clean amp with single-coils, dialing in edge-of-breakup gain and balanced EQ for a jangly, slightly gritty indie tone. The solo is warm, mid-forward, and slightly roomy, matching these settings and era-typical production.