Freaking Out the Neighborhood amp settings — Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212
The Mac DeMarco guitar tone for “Freaking Out the Neighborhood”, dialed in for a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 with a Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster. Studio version, 2 (2012)
Teisco vintage guitar (neck pickup) -> Alesis MicroVerb 4 (preset 44 flanger/vibrato 100% wet) -> 1970s Fender Silverface Vibro-Champ (mic'd clean/edge-of-breakup)
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Bass | 3 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 7 |
| Presence | 6 |
| Reverb | 3 |
| Master | 4 |
01Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9
Used strictly as a clean mid-push/boost to mimic small cranked tube preamp compression; keep Drive minimal
02Boss VB-2W Vibrato / CE-2W Chorus
RECOMMENDED — not owned (essential for Mac's signature 100% wet pitch-wobble warble)
Mac's studio tone comes from a tiny cranked 6-watt Vibro-Champ, whereas the Hot Rod DeVille 212 has massive clean headroom; use the TS9 as a clean push with Drive near zero and Level up to simulate that mild tube compression without muddy distortion. Cut DeVille's bass to 3 and push treble and bright switch to replicate the thin, jangly, top-heavy character of his vintage Teisco single coils. Your Tele neck pickup provides the necessary roundness while picking near the bridge delivers the signature percussive bite.
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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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