GuitarDistortedRiff
Moonlight on the River Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Mac DeMarco
Mac DeMarco · 2010s+ · other
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese or Mexican, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era)
Pickups
Single-coil (stock Fender Stratocaster pickups, likely ceramic or Alnico V)
Amp
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus (most commonly used by Mac DeMarco for studio recordings in this era)
Pickup Position
Neck pickup (or position 4: neck + middle, for glassy clean)
Studio recording, 2016-2017 (This Old Dog sessions). Gear inferred from era and Mac's known studio setup; no direct source confirms exact guitar/amp for this song, but Strat and JC-120 are overwhelmingly documented for his studio work.
Amp Settings
Mids5.5
Bass6
Gain3
Reverb6
Treble6
Presence5
Effects Chain
- Matthews Effects The Whaler · fuzz
- Tape Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Fender Stratocaster → Matthews Effects The Whaler → Tape Delay pedal (model unknown) → Roland JC-120 (spring reverb on)
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Tone Character
- surfy fuzzy textures
- ambient and dreamy
- modulated clean with tape delay
- slightly gritty edge
- lush, reverberant sound
- chorus-like shimmer
- spacious and atmospheric
- warm but not muddy
- subtle overdrive/fuzz blend
- clear single-coil articulation