Feel Good Inc. (feat. David Jolicoeur, Kelvin Mercer & Vincent Mason) amp settings — Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212
The Gorillaz & De La Soul guitar tone for “Feel Good Inc. (feat. David Jolicoeur, Kelvin Mercer & Vincent Mason)”, dialed in for a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 with a Fender Player Stratocaster. Studio version, Demon Days (2005) — recorded at Kong Studios (Essex) and Studio 13 (London)
Clean tube amp platform (likely Fender-style), Fender Stratocaster or similar single-coil guitar, Boss DS-1, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi, MXR Phase 90, Boss CE-2 Chorus — electric guitar sits behind synths in mix with lo-fi, slightly gritty texture
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 0 |
| Bass | 6 |
| Mid | 5 |
| Treble | 4 |
| Presence | 3 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 5 |
01Boss DS-1 Distortion
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Essential for the main bent-note riff grit. Without this, use the Drive channel at gain 3-4 as a compromise, but it will lack the DS-1's sizzle.
02MXR Phase 90
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Adds the subtle swirl heard on the verse riff. Can be omitted, but tone loses movement.
Your Hot Rod DeVille is the correct amp family — Fender clean platform is exactly what the original used. I'm keeping you on the Clean channel with Drive at 0 because the original's grit comes entirely from the DS-1 pedal, not amp breakup. Treble dropped to 4 and presence to 3 because the DeVille's bright voicing plus Strat single coils will be harsher than the lo-fi, buried-in-mix guitar tone on the recording. Without the DS-1, your best substitute is engaging the Drive channel at gain 3 with the same EQ, but expect a warmer, less cutting result.
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These settings are for a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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