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Scarlet Begonias — Grateful Dead1 / 2
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Scarlet Begonias Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead · 1970s · rock

live

Original Recording

Guitar
1973 Doug Irwin 'Wolf' Custom Guitar
Pickups
DiMarzio Super II humbucker (bridge), DiMarzio SDS-1 single coil (middle), DiMarzio SDS-1 single coil (neck)
Amp
Fender Twin Reverb (Silverface, AB763 circuit) into McIntosh MC2300 power amp, JBL K-120 speakers
Pickup Position
Middle pickup (DiMarzio SDS-1 single coil)

Live performance, May 8, 1977 (Cornell, Barton Hall); Jerry's 'Wolf' guitar was used for the solo, with the signal routed through a Silverface Fender Twin Reverb preamp into a McIntosh MC2300 power amp and JBL K-120 speakers. No evidence of distortion pedals; effects are primarily amp-based. No evidence of studio overdubs or alternate guitars for the solo.

Amp Settings

Mids
6.5
Bass
5.5
Gain
3.5
Reverb
3.5
Treble
7.5
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • crystal-clear single note lines
  • articulate and bell-like highs
  • warm, singing sustain
  • dynamic touch sensitivity
  • slight amp breakup on peaks
  • spring reverb ambience
  • bright and present attack
  • full-bodied midrange
  • responsive to picking dynamics
  • no audible overdrive or fuzz

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for this performance; values estimated based on typical Jerry Garcia live rig and era.
  • ⚠️No explicit mention of effects pedals used for the solo; no audible wah, delay, chorus, or other modulation in the solo section.
  • ⚠️All evidence points to amp spring reverb as the only effect; no pedal-based effects confirmed.
  • ⚠️Pickup position inferred from known Jerry Garcia preferences and solo tone characteristics.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Jerry Garcia's solo tone on 'Scarlet Begonias' (studio, 1974) is clean but lively, with a touch of warmth and sparkle, typical of his Fender Twin Reverb setup with moderate mids, bright treble, and subtle onboard spring reverb. The gain is just above clean for slight breakup, and presence is set to keep the tone airy without harshness.

Sources