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Perfect Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran · 2010s+ · other
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Martin LX1E Little Martin
Pickups
Fishman Isys T undersaddle piezo pickup
Amp
Direct Input (DI) or studio preamp, no traditional guitar amp used
Pickup Position
Piezo undersaddle pickup (acoustic, no selector)
Studio recording, 2017. Ed Sheeran is known for recording his acoustic parts direct via the onboard Fishman pickup, often blended with a condenser mic (sE Electronics sE4400a) in the studio. No evidence of a traditional guitar amp or electric guitar used for the riff section of 'Perfect'.
Amp Settings
Mids6
Bass5.5
Gain0
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- warm and natural
- clear and articulate
- intimate and close-mic'd
- soft and dynamic
- percussive fingerstyle elements
- minimal coloration
- slightly bright top end
- balanced mids
- gentle low end
- subtle studio reverb
Notes & Caveats
- Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
- No evidence of a traditional guitar amp or electric guitar used for the riff section; all sources and audio point to direct acoustic recording.
- No specific numeric EQ or gain settings found for the DI or preamp; values estimated based on typical studio acoustic DI practice and genre.
- No pedals or stompboxes are used for the riff section; all effects are minimal and likely applied in post-production or via studio reverb.
- If a live version is referenced, Ed Sheeran uses a Boss RC-20XL Looper, but this is not part of the studio riff tone.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect' riff uses a clean, articulate acoustic-like electric tone with subtle warmth and clarity, likely from a low-gain, mid-forward amp setting with moderate bass and slightly boosted treble. The production favors a natural, intimate sound with light reverb for space, matching his typical singer-songwriter style and gear choices.