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Gimme Shelter (Remastered 2019) Guitar Tone Settings
The Rolling Stones · 1960s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Maton EG240 Supreme
Pickups
Maton single coil pickups (original 1960s spec)
Amp
Fender tube amp (exact model unknown, likely blackface Twin or Deluxe Reverb)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (Maton single coil), possibly with tone rolled back slightly
Studio recording, 1969. Keith Richards used a Maton EG240 Supreme borrowed from a friend for the original studio riff. Tremolo effect was produced by the amp, not a pedal. No evidence of pedals in the clean riff section.
Amp Settings
Mids7.5
Bass6
Gain2.5
Reverb3
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- tremolo-drenched clean
- warm and slightly gritty
- chimey and open
- dynamic and touch-sensitive
- slightly compressed
- amp-based modulation
- articulate attack
- subtle harmonic overtones
- not-quite-clean edge
- rich, atmospheric texture
Notes & Caveats
- No official amp model or exact settings published for the studio session; amp inferred as Fender tube combo based on era and tone.
- No pedal use confirmed for the clean riff; tremolo effect is amp-based.
- Settings are estimated based on typical Fender amp settings for classic rock clean tones and forum consensus.
- Pickup position inferred from multiple sources describing 'bridge pickup' and 'tone rolled back'.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Keith Richards' riff tone on 'Gimme Shelter' is classic late-60s British rock: edge-of-breakup with strong mids, moderate bass, and clear but not harsh treble, likely from a cranked tube amp (Vox or Ampeg) with minimal reverb. The tone is mid-forward, slightly gritty, and roomy but not drenched, matching the era's production and Richards' typical amp settings.