Indie Rock1997Either/Or

L.A. Amp Settings

by Elliott Smith

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Original Recording Settings

Well-SourcedResearched tone data for "L.A." by Elliott Smith

Original Gear

Guitar: Yamaha FG-180 Red Label (1970s acoustic) / Gibson ES-330 (late 1960s, full-hollow, P-90 pickups, Bigsby)
Pickups: Bill Lawrence A-300 (acoustic) / Stock Gibson P-90 (ES-330) (soundhole (acoustic); not specified (electric))
Amplifier: Fender Vibrolux Reverb (silverface) / Top Hat King Royale K-35
Channel: Clean (low volume, edge-of-breakup)
Tuning: D standard (estimated — commonly cited for Smith's acoustic work)
Pickup Selector: n/a

Either/Or was primarily lo-fi home recording — much guitar captured via mic on acoustic or direct through soundhole pickup. Recorded on Tascam 38 (8-track reel-to-reel) and Tascam Portastudio (4-track cassette).

Amp Settings

Gain

4.0

Bass

5.0

Mid

5.0

Treble

6.0

Estimated. Clean-to-edge-of-breakup character at low volumes on Tascam 38. Vibrolux Reverb has no mid control — mid 5 represents natural unaltered midrange. Bass 5 for warmth with P-90s, treble 6 for articulate fingerpicking clarity.

Effects Chain

→

Digitech TSR 24S

multi-effects

→

Ibanez AD202

delay

→

1.Digitech TSR 24S — Smith in Tape Op #4: 'one of those boxes that will make any effect that you have the patience to try to program.'

2.Ibanez AD202 — Pictured in Smith's recording equipment photo from Tape Op.

Playing Technique

Fingerstyle, no pick — Smith chewed his nails short, producing warmer tone without nail attack. Piedmont-influenced picking (thumb for bass, index/middle for melody). Picks close to neck joint for rounder tone. Extensively double-tracked guitars and vocals — signature technique confirmed by Larry Crane.

Sources+

Tape Op #4 (Larry Crane interview with Smith — primary): recording chain, Digitech TSR 24S, double-tracking technique.
Tape Op #118 (Larry Crane liner notes for Either/Or reissue): additional recording context.
Equipboard (Elliott Smith): Yamaha FG-180, Gibson ES-330, Bill Lawrence A-300, Fender Vibrolux, Top Hat K-35.
Mixdown Magazine, Zing Instruments: gear confirmation.