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St. Stephen — Grateful Dead1 / 2
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St. Stephen Solo Guitar Tone Settings — Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead · 1960s · rock

studio

Original Recording

Guitar
Gibson SG Standard (late 1960s, likely 1967-1968, stock wiring)
Pickups
Gibson PAF-style humbuckers
Amp
Fender Twin Reverb (blackface, late 1960s, likely 1967-1968)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Studio recording, 1969. Gear based on era, photos, and multiple forum and Equipboard sources. No evidence of pedals or effects other than amp reverb for this solo. Jerry Garcia's SG and Twin Reverb setup is well-documented for this period. No evidence of effects loop or additional rack gear on the original studio recording.

Amp Settings

Mids
6
Bass
6
Gain
3.5
Reverb
4
Treble
7
Presence
6

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Tone Character

  • bright and articulate
  • warm, singing sustain
  • slightly overdriven edge
  • touch-sensitive attack
  • clear single-note definition
  • open and dynamic
  • subtle amp reverb spaciousness
  • uncompressed and natural
  • vintage Fender clean with breakup
  • no heavy fuzz or modulation

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for 'St. Stephen' solo; values are estimated based on typical late-60s Fender Twin Reverb settings for Garcia's tone.
  • ⚠️No evidence of pedals or effects other than amp spring reverb on the studio recording; forum and Equipboard sources confirm simple setup.
  • ⚠️Pickup position inferred from tone and period photos; Garcia often used bridge pickup for solos on SG in this era.
  • ⚠️If new archival evidence emerges, settings may need revision.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Jerry Garcia's 'St. Stephen' solo tone (Aoxomoxoa era) is clean but with slight breakup, rich mids, and articulate highs, typical of his Fender Twin Reverb setup with single-coil pickups. The amp is set for clarity and warmth, with moderate reverb for space, and a touch of presence for air.

Sources