My Kind of Woman Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Mac DeMarco
Mac DeMarco · 2010s+ · rock
studio
Original Recording
A reconstruction of the solo tone. Gear attributions and estimated settings are explained in the research notes below.
Studio recording, 2012 album '2'. Gear confirmed for this era and album; solo section likely used same setup as main track. No evidence of alternate guitar or amp for solo. Pedals inferred from era and audible effects.
Amp Settings
Suggested starting points on a 0–10 scale, not documented studio knob positions. Match to your gear for controls specific to your setup.
Effects Chain
- Boss CE-2 Chorus · chorus
- MXR M169 Carbon Copy Analog Delay · delay
- MXR M133 Micro Amp · boost
Silvertone 1448 → MXR Micro Amp → Boss CE-2 Chorus → MXR Carbon Copy Delay → Fender Twin Reverb (spring reverb on)
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Tone Character
- warm and slightly warped
- dreamy, nostalgic vibe
- smooth and mellow solo sound
- reverb-laden
- chorus shimmer
- subtle analog delay tail
- clean, glassy attack
- lo-fi, tape-like modulation
- breezy and jangly
- rounded, non-harsh highs
Playing Technique
- Start vibrato after the note settles · difficulty 3/5Pick softly, let the pitch sit for a moment, then widen the wrist motion gradually. The delayed vibrato creates DeMarco's calm vocal quality instead of nervous wobble.
- Let the fretting hand drift gently · difficulty 3/5Use small pitch inflections at the end of selected notes, keeping the destination musical. The goal is character, not random detuning, so resolve longer notes clearly.
- Pick with the thumb-side of the hand · difficulty 2/5Use a soft, rounded attack and avoid digging into the string. A clean amp should respond to pressure changes, giving phrase peaks a little more bloom without extra pedals.
- Keep slides slow and audible · difficulty 3/5Move between positions in time and let the transition noise remain quiet but present. Rushing a slide makes the line sound practiced; a patient arrival keeps it conversational.
Sources
Tone Story / Why This Tone Works
- Style and eraMy Kind of Woman belongs to Mac DeMarco's early-2010s 2 era, where homespun recording and soft-focus melodies made small guitar details feel close.
- Mac's guitar voiceHis elastic vibrato, gentle pitch drift, and relaxed behind-the-beat attack make an uncomplicated line sound unmistakably human.
- Why the clean tone worksWarm headroom, light compression, and modest room ambience keep the vibrato visible instead of turning it into a polished indie lead.
- Why the solo landsThe line feels like a private aside because held notes can sag, bloom, and resolve inside the song's romantic verse-to-chorus movement.
What Fans Are Saying About This Tone?
im listening to this at 3 am, in quarantine, currently crying, all my friends no longer wanna be friends, life's great.. edit: damn i sounded kinda dumb writing this comment. ty guys for all the support, and i'm doing fine now <3
Vote your takeDear stranger.... You have a great taste in music..... See you again after 20 yrs.
Vote your taketo all the girls with this music taste you're my kind of woman
Vote your taketo all the young girls, be your own kind of woman before changing who you are. never lose your personality or spark for someone else
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