
Song Rig
She's Long Gone
Dan Auerbach · Brothers · 2010
Tone Overview
What Makes This Sound Unique
Lo-fi, raw blues rock — Brothers was famously recorded in a short time in a shared space, and the tones have an organic, slightly muddy quality that suits the material. Auerbach's guitar here is dirtier and more vintage-sounding than El Camino, with a P90-equipped guitar through a smaller amp.
Signal Chain
- 1Silvertone 1478 or P90-equipped semi-hollow
- 2Fender Deluxe Reverb (pushed hard)
- 3no pedals (amp breakup only)
Amp Settings
Fender Deluxe Reverb cranked for natural tube saturation — no pedals, all amp breakup. The slightly rough, recording character is part of the aesthetic. The P90-equipped guitar into the cranked Deluxe gives a warm, slightly compressed crunch.
Technique
How to Play It
Stinging single-note blues lines between chord riffs — Auerbach plays both the rhythm and the melodic answering phrases without layering, which requires fast position shifts and a confident single-take approach.
Budget Alternative
Achievable With
P90-equipped guitar (Epiphone Casino, Gibson ES-330, or SG with P90s) → Fender Deluxe Reverb or Blues Junior cranked. No pedals needed.
Your Gear
Adapt to My Amp
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