Tone Settings for Send Me an Angel by Real Life (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Set your guitar volume knob to 8–10 to ensure full signal is being sent to your pedals or amp.
• Clean tones benefit from a slight roll-down (around 8) if amp gain is high or sensitive.
• Make sure pedal compression or modulation levels are balanced when using high volume.

2. Tone

• Keep tone knob on the guitar at around 7–10 for brightness, but not overly sharp.
• Use amp EQ to emphasize mids and slightly cut lows and highs for that synth-blend guitar sound.
• Add light chorus or reverb for that signature 80s shimmer.

3. Pickup Selector

• Use the bridge pickup for punch and brightness, especially for rhythmic arpeggios.
• Try the middle or bridge+middle position for a softer attack and more vintage warmth in clean passages.

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Single coils are preferred for their glassy texture and attack clarity matching 80s synth-pop tones.
• However, quieter humbuckers or coil-split pickups can also work if dialed in to retain high end presence.

5. Ideal Guitar Type

• A Strat-style guitar with three single-coil pickups is ideal.
• Rosewood or maple necks both acceptable – maple may provide slightly more brightness for rhythm parts.
• Use a tremolo bridge sparingly for subtle vibrato effects, if desired.

• Fender Stratocaster: Great for clean, chorus-laden tones typical of ’80s new wave.
• Boss CE-2W Chorus Pedal: Delivers lush, vintage chorus sound crucial for atmospheric texture.
• Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer: Adds subtle overdrive for dynamic lead parts.
• Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb: Provides ambient reverb for dreamy atmospheres.
• MXR Dyna Comp Compressor: Useful for evening out dynamics in arpeggiated guitar parts.
• Fender Twin Reverb Amp: Classic clean amp with built-in reverb ideal for shimmering tones.
• Ernie Ball Volume Pedal: Helps shape swells and ambient transitions.
• BOSS DD-7 Digital Delay: Great for adding rhythmic echoes and spatial depth.
• Gibson ES-335: Warm semi-hollow tone offers a smoother complement to synth layers.

• Use a clean, emotive vocal tone with minimal vibrato.
• Maintain breath control for smooth phrasing.
• Apply slight delay and reverb effects for atmospheric depth.
• Keep guitar tones clean or lightly chorused for a classic ’80s feel.
• Use synth pads subtly to support vocals without overwhelming them.
• Follow the original dynamic contour—start soft and build gradually.
• Keep percussion tight and minimal to preserve emotional focus.
• Avoid excessive ornamentation or vocal runs; simplicity is key.
• Ensure all instruments stay in tune with each other, especially during ambient sections.
• Practice with metronome to match the laid-back yet steady tempo of the original.