Tone Settings for Calgary by Bon Iver (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Keep volume at around 70–80% on the guitar to retain headroom and dynamics.
• Adjust amp volume to allow for slight natural breakup without overpowering clarity.
• If using a volume pedal, keep it mid-way for subtle swells and control.

2. Tone

• Set tone knob between 40–60%, for a warmer, more ambient sound.
• Dial back treble slightly on the amp to remove harshness and replicate mellowness.
• Keep mids slightly scooped but not entirely absent to preserve body.

3. Pickup Selector

• Use the neck pickup primarily for warmth and softness.
• Occasionally toggle to the middle position to blend neck and bridge for ambient layering.
• Avoid bridge-only positions, as they are often too bright for this tone.

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Use single coils for clarity and chime; preferred for capturing Bon Iver’s ethereal textures.
• P-90s can also work well for a slightly fuller output while maintaining clarity.
• If using humbuckers, consider coil-splitting or EQ adjustments to reduce output and brightness.

5. Ideal Guitar Type (Electric – Jazzmaster-Style)

• Jazzmaster-style guitars are ideal due to their unique tone circuit and wide single coil pickups.
• Look for offset guitars with floating tremolos for subtle modulation and note blooming.
• Ensure the guitar has good sustain and resonance for ambient layering and reverb-heavy playing.

• Fender Telecaster: Ideal for bright, articulate tones akin to Bon Iver’s guitar work.
• Boss RV-6 Reverb Pedal: Adds ethereal ambience typical of the song’s soundscape.
• Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano: Compact reverb option with lush, atmospheric settings.
• Strymon BigSky Reverb: High-end reverb pedal with deep ambient capabilities.
• Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler: Versatile delay to create the song’s rhythmic echo textures.
• Fender Blues Junior Amp: Warm tube tones with responsive dynamics, good for subtle ambient playing.
• Ernie Ball Volume Pedal: Useful for smooth volume swells and ambient transitions.
• MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay: Analog warmth and modulation to enhance depth.
• Gibson ES-335: Semi-hollow option for a more resonant, rounded clean tone.
• TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2: Multi-mode reverb with shimmering ambient features.

• Use a light overdrive or clean tone with subtle reverb to preserve dynamics.
• Select neck pickup or a warm humbucker setting to emulate the mellow character.
• Set amp EQ: treble low, mids slightly scooped, bass moderate for clarity.
• Apply soft compression to smooth out fingerpicking nuances.
• Delay settings: short analog delay (~300ms) with low feedback for texture.
• Avoid high gain; maintain note articulation and organic tone.
• Incorporate light chorus or modulation sparingly to add subtle depth.
• Keep overall output volume moderate to preserve intimacy of the track.