Tone Settings for Red Eyes by The War on Drugs (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Set guitar volume to around 7–8 for more dynamic control and subtle drive response
• Boost to 10 during lead or ambient swells for added sustain and presence
• Use volume knob to slightly clean up overdrive and create movement in tone

2. Tone

• Dial in tone control around 6–7 for a warmer, vintage-inspired midrange
• Roll off slightly for ambient passages; increase for more bite in lead lines
• Match with amp EQ—slightly scooped mids, open highs, tight low end

3. Pickup Selector

• Bridge pickup for punchy rhythms and defined overdriven textures
• Middle or bridge-middle position for clarity during arpeggiated delay sections
• Switch to neck pickup for warm, ambient lead tones and swells

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Single coil pickups preferred for chimey, articulate delay trails and atmospheric clarity
• Consider noiseless single coils or low-output humbuckers for a balance of warmth and detail

5. Ideal Guitar Type (Strat-style Electric)

• Strat-style guitar with three single coils or HSS configuration for versatility
• Maple or rosewood fretboard depending on tonal preference: maple for brightness, rosewood for warmth
• Vintage-style tremolo ideal for expressive ambient modulation
• Consider pickups with moderate output for harmonically rich break-up under gain

• Fender Jazzmaster: Ideal for jangly, bright tones that suit the song’s rhythm parts
• Gretsch Electromatic: Offers chimey cleans and slight grit, great for lead lines
• Boss DD-7 Digital Delay: For spacious delays that match the song’s atmospheric feel
• Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb: Adds lush ambience, key to the song’s depth
• Fulltone OCD Overdrive: Gives a dynamic drive for the song’s more intense sections
• Fender Twin Reverb Amp: Clean headroom with rich tone, ideal platform for effects
• Ernie Ball Volume Pedal: Useful for swelling into notes and controlling dynamics smoothly
• MXR Phase 90: Subtle modulation that adds motion without overpowering

• Use moderate overdrive for a warm, slightly gritty tone.
• Set amp EQ to emphasize mids and highs; keep bass slightly rolled off.
• Use a delay pedal with subtle repeats for added depth.
• Employ light compression to maintain dynamics and sustain.
• Dial in reverb to match the ambient, atmospheric vibe of the track.
• Use single-coil pickups or a clean humbucker in split-coil mode for clarity.
• Strumming should be even and rhythmic, especially in the intro and chorus.
• For solos, boost mids slightly and use smooth phrasing with minimal gain increase.
• Avoid excessive modulation; keep effects chain simple and transparent.
• Match the original track’s tempo and dynamics closely for authentic feel.