Indie Rock1997Either/Or
L.A. Amp Settings
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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
- Not specified
- 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
No settings available
Not documented. Clean to light breakup, low volume, recorded in apartments/basements.
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.
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