Tone Settings for Under the Pressure by The War on Drugs (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Set guitar volume to about 7–8 for rhythm sections to preserve headroom
• Boost to full (10) for lead lines and dynamic swells to push the amp or pedals slightly harder
• Use volume knob actively for expressive control in ambient and delay-heavy passages

2. Tone

• Keep tone knob around 7–8 for warmth while still retaining clarity
• Roll back slightly more for atmospheric rhythm parts with delays or modulation
• Open fully for brighter, cutting leads that sit on top of the mix

3. Pickup Selector

• Neck pickup for ambient rhythm and chorus-rich textures
• Middle pickup or neck-middle position for balanced tone with some brightness and warmth
• Bridge pickup sparingly for lead or effect-drenched solos to cut through mix

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Single coil preferred for chimey, articulate clean tones
• Consider noiseless single coils to reduce hum with ambient delay effects
• Optional: use a bridge-position humbucker if seeking fatter solo tones, but keep neck pickups single coil for rhythmic layers

5. Ideal Guitar Type (Strat-style Electric)

• Fender Stratocaster or similar style with three single coils
• Maple or rosewood fretboard depending on preferred brightness (maple = more snap)
• Vintage-style tremolo for subtle modulation effects (if used with reverb and delay)
• Ideally with tone and volume controls that respond well to touch dynamics

• Fender Stratocaster: Excellent for shimmering clean tones and atmospheric layering.
• Epiphone Casino: Semi-hollow body adds warmth and texture to rhythm parts.
• MXR Carbon Copy Delay: Ideal for analog-style delay textures used throughout the song.
• Strymon BigSky Reverb: Wide variety of ambient reverbs for lush soundscapes.
• Electro-Harmonix Memory Man: Classic modulation delay for dreamy tape echo effects.
• Boss CE-2 Chorus: Thickens tone and adds depth for ambient rhythm playing.
• Ernie Ball Volume Pedal: Useful for swells and dynamic control in ambient sections.
• Fender Deluxe Reverb Amp: Clean and responsive, perfect for pedal-heavy setups.
• EarthQuaker Devices Avalanche Run: Stereo reverb and delay for expansive ambient tones.
• JHS Morning Glory Overdrive: Transparent overdrive for subtle break-up and articulation.

• Use a clean, shimmering guitar tone with moderate reverb and light chorus.
• Dial in mild compression on rhythm guitars to enhance sustain and dynamics.
• Apply subtle tape delay or analog-style echo on lead guitar sections.
• Use analog-style synth pads with soft attack and wide stereo panning.
• Program drums with roomy, ambient reverb to create space and depth.
• Saturate bass signal slightly to emulate vintage warmth and fullness.
• Set tempo to approximately 94 BPM with flowing, consistent groove.
• Use automation to slowly build ambient layers over song progression.
• Avoid abrupt tone changes; keep all transitions smooth and evolving.
• Reference original mix for balance of ambient textures and rhythmic clarity.