GuitarDistortedSolo80% confidence
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding Guitar Tone Settings
Elvis Costello & The Attractions · 1970s · rock
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
Fender Jazzmaster (likely 1960s model)
Pickups
Fender Jazzmaster single-coil pickups
Amp
Unknown (likely Fender or Vox combo, era-appropriate studio amp)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 1978, from 'Armed Forces' sessions. No direct source confirms the exact amp or pedal used for the solo. Costello is known for using a Fender Jazzmaster on this album and era. No evidence of live rig or alternate guitars for the solo section.
Amp Settings
Mids7
Bass6
Gain6
Reverb3
Treble7
Presence5.5
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Tone Character
- punchy and mid-forward
- bright and articulate
- slightly compressed
- raw and energetic
- focused sustain
- biting top end
- dynamic pick attack
- modest amp reverb
- clear note separation
- not heavily saturated
Notes & Caveats
- No direct source confirms the exact amp or pedal used for the solo section on the studio recording.
- No explicit mention of effects or pedal models in available sources.
- Settings estimated based on typical 1970s new wave/rock studio tones and Costello's known gear for the era.
- No evidence of modulation, delay, or time-based effects in the solo section; only mild amp reverb is likely.
- Guitar and pickup choice inferred from era and known live/studio usage.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Nick Lowe's production and The Attractions' late-70s British pub rock sound favor a Vox/Marshall-style edge-of-breakup to light crunch with prominent mids and moderate treble for clarity. The solo is punchy but not overly distorted, with a dry, upfront mix and only subtle reverb typical of the era.