Freaking Out the Neighborhood amp settings — Fender Blues Junior IV
The Mac DeMarco guitar tone for “Freaking Out the Neighborhood”, dialed in for a Fender Blues Junior IV with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio version, 2 (2012) — signature intro and lead riff
1960s Fender Vibro Champ + Alesis MicroVerb 4 (Preset 44 flanger, 100% wet vibrato modulation) + vintage Teisco/Fender-style single-coil neck pickup
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 4 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Reverb | 3 |
| Master | 5 |
01Vibrato / Pitch Modulation (e.g. Boss VB-2W or Behringer UV300)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (Mac achieved this using 100% wet flanger preset 44 on an Alesis MicroVerb 4)
The Blues Junior IV has strong low-mids and a bright top end, so keeping Volume (gain) around 4 gives clean clarity without harsh clipping. The onboard spring reverb adds the vintage spring character of the original Vibro Champ. To capture the signature woozy pitch wobble, add a dedicated 100% wet pitch vibrato pedal in front of the amp.
Get this tone on your amp
These settings are for a Fender Blues Junior IV. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
Get ToneAdapt on Google PlaySong, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.