TonesMatch
L.A. — Elliott Smith1 / 2
Original RigYour Adaptation
GuitarCleanSolo80% confidence

L.A. Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith · 2000s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson Les Paul Standard (likely late 60s/early 70s, used by Elliott Smith on Figure 8 sessions)
Pickups
Humbuckers (stock Gibson, likely T-Top or similar era-correct)
Amp
Allen Old Flame (Fender-style boutique amp, used in studio for Figure 8 era, possibly Accomplice variant)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup

Studio recording, 1999-2000 (Figure 8 sessions). Gear confirmed for 'L.A.' by multiple sources. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars/amps for this track's clean solo section.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
5.5
Gain
2
Reverb
4
Treble
6.5
Presence
5

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Tone Character

  • clear and bell-like
  • warm midrange
  • articulate single notes
  • slightly scooped lows
  • sparkling high end
  • dynamic and touch-sensitive
  • minimal breakup
  • natural amp reverb
  • studio clarity
  • no audible compression

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct numeric amp settings found for 'L.A.' solo clean tone; settings estimated based on Allen Old Flame (Fender-style) amp typical clean settings and genre/era.
  • ⚠️Guitar and amp confirmed for Figure 8 sessions and 'L.A.' specifically, but no explicit pickup selector position; neck pickup inferred from tone and typical Elliott Smith usage.
  • ⚠️No explicit pedal use for clean solo section found; all effects inferred from audio and studio context.
  • ⚠️No evidence of chorus, flanger, phaser, or other modulation in clean solo; only subtle amp reverb is audible.
  • ⚠️If alternate amp (Top Hat Royale, Vox AC30) was used, settings may differ, but Allen Old Flame is most cited for this session.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Elliott Smith's solo section on 'L.A.' features a clean-to-edge-of-breakup tone with warm mids and moderate bass, typical of his Fender amp and Gibson guitar setup in this era. The tone is articulate but not overly bright, with natural room reverb and no excessive gain, matching his indie/rock singer-songwriter style.

Sources