Moonlight on the River Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Mac DeMarco
Mac DeMarco · 2010s+ · other
studio
Original Recording
Studio recording, 2017 (This Old Dog sessions). Mac DeMarco is confirmed to use the Vibro Champ for recording, mic'd and run into a Roland KC-550 for monitoring. Effects are mostly pedals, not amp-based. Pickup likely neck or middle for solo. No evidence of live rig for this part.
Amp Settings
Effects Chain
- Boss CE-2 Chorus (or CE-3/CE-5, model varies by era) · chorus
- Boss VB-2 Vibrato (or TC Electronic Shaker Vibrato, model varies by era) · vibrato
- MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay · delay
- Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb · reverb
- MXR Micro Amp · boost
Guitar → MXR Micro Amp → Boss CE-2/CE-3/CE-5 Chorus → Boss VB-2 Vibrato → MXR Carbon Copy Delay → Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb → Fender Vibro Champ (mic'd, into Roland KC-550 for monitoring)
Tone Matcher
Match This Tone to Your Gear
Tell us your guitar and amp — we’ll calculate the exact settings translated to your specific rig.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime.
Tone Character
- lush and modulated
- psychedelic and dreamy
- warm and smooth
- slightly overdriven clean
- ambient and washy
- swirling modulation
- lo-fi analog warmth
- clear single-coil articulation
- soft attack
- atmospheric solo texture
Playing Technique
- Pick softly and close to the neck · difficulty 2/5A gentle attack keeps the single-coil voice warm. Let the boost and amp provide the edge instead of hitting the string hard.
- Hold phrases into the modulation · difficulty 3/5Leave space after each phrase and allow chorus/vibrato to move the sustained note. Short, busy playing defeats the dreamy solo texture.
- Use slow, deliberate vibrato · difficulty 3/5Keep the fretting-hand vibrato wide and unhurried. A little pitch movement makes the solo feel human without becoming a rock lead cliché.
- Place the delay before the final wash · difficulty 3/5Set the repeats low enough to preserve the original phrase, then let reverb create the long tail. Too much feedback hides the melodic center.
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
- This Old Dog eraThe 2017 era favors intimate songwriting, tape-soft edges, and guitar textures that feel atmospheric rather than polished.
- Mac’s touchDeMarco’s loose, tactile attack and vintage single-coil color make small pitch and envelope changes feel expressive.
- Modulated spaceChorus, vibrato, delay, and reverb stretch a lightly driven amp into a hazy solo environment.
- Why it worksThe tone keeps the melody warm while letting the long solo dissolve into the song’s dreamlike ending.
What Fans Are Saying About This Tone?
Letting yourself go through all the layers of the music is such an emotional trip. I could listen the ending on loop for hours... Thank you so much for sharing! ❤
Vote your takelove Mac so much he’s gotten me through a lot of phases
Vote your takeguitarist is feelin it. i love the way it seems he's just feelin the music as much as mac. this is dope 10min moonlight on the river tysm
Vote your take