GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
The Strangers Solo Guitar Tone Settings — St. Vincent
St. Vincent · 2010s+ · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Ernie Ball Music Man St. Vincent Signature (2010s, original 3-mini-humbucker model)
Pickups
DiMarzio custom mini-humbuckers (3, switching options)
Amp
1960s/70s Marshall 1974X combo
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup (likely for solo, based on brighter, cutting tone in solo section)
Studio recording, 2009 (album released 2009). Guitar and amp confirmed for this era and album. No evidence of live/touring substitutions. Effects chain for solo inferred from audible effects and artist's typical pedalboard for this era.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain7
Reverb2.5
Treble7.5
Presence6
Effects Chain
- Overdrive pedal (model unknown) · overdrive
- Delay pedal (model unknown) · delay
Ernie Ball Music Man St. Vincent → Overdrive pedal → Delay pedal → Marshall 1974X (studio reverb added in mix or via outboard/aux send)
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Tone Character
- tight and focused
- singing sustain
- slightly fuzzy attack
- articulate note separation
- present upper mids
- dynamic and touch-sensitive
- modern art-rock edge
- modest reverb for space
- not overly saturated
- bright, cutting solo voice
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source lists exact pedal models or amp knob settings for 'The Strangers' solo; amp and guitar confirmed for era, settings estimated based on Marshall 1974X typical usage in studio rock context.
- No pedalboard photo or explicit effect list for this specific song/solo; delay and reverb are clearly audible in the solo, but model is not confirmed.
- Pickup position inferred from solo tone (bright, cutting, not neck/middle).
- No evidence of fuzz, chorus, flanger, or phaser in this solo section.
- Reverb is likely amp-based (Marshall 1974X has no onboard reverb, so likely added in studio or via pedal; kept low in mix).
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Annie Clark (St. Vincent) favors a biting, mid-forward, and slightly overdriven lead tone with clarity and articulation, especially in solo sections. The solo on 'The Strangers' has a crunchy, present sound with pronounced mids and treble, moderate bass, and a touch of reverb for space, matching her typical amp voicing and production style from the late 2000s.