GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
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
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source confirms exact guitar/amp for this song, but Mac DeMarco is widely documented using a Fender Stratocaster and Roland JC-120 for studio work in this era.
- No numeric amp settings found; estimated based on typical JC-120 settings for Mac's tone and genre.
- Pedal model (Matthews Effects The Whaler) is suggested as a fuzz/overdrive for this song by Equipboard, but not 100% confirmed for this exact recording.
- Delay is clearly audible and described as tape delay in forums, but exact pedal model is not confirmed.
- Pickup position inferred from typical Mac DeMarco tone and audible characteristics.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mac DeMarco is known for clean, slightly gritty tones with a warm, mid-forward character, often using vintage amps (like a Fender Twin or Roland JC-120) with moderate reverb. The 'Moonlight on the River' riff is clean but not sterile, with a lush, roomy feel and rounded highs, suggesting low gain, boosted bass/mids, tamed treble, and prominent reverb.