Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
To recreate the gritty, mid-forward tone of 'Seven Nation Army,' we'll use the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s for its single-coil pickups and the Fender Mustang LT25 to emulate the amp character and effects. The Mustang's modeling capabilities will help approximate the vintage crunch and fuzz needed for the song.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — main riff
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Neck Pickup | Select the neck pickup for a warmer, more vintage tone that fits the main riff. |
| Master Volume | 8 | Set to 8 to maintain clarity while driving the amp's crunch. |
| Tone 1 | 7 | Roll back to 7 to reduce harshness and match the recording's nasal character. |
| Tone 2 | 10 | Tone wide open — roll it down to soften the high end. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — amplification
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | 04 CLASSIC ROCK | This preset provides a solid foundation for the crunchy, mid-heavy tone needed for the song. |
| Gain | 7 | Increase to 7 to achieve the saturated tube crunch with fuzz characteristic of the recording. |
| Volume | 5 | Set to 5 to balance output without overpowering the fuzz effect. |
| Treble | 6 | Set to 6 to maintain the mid-forward and slightly nasal character of the tone. |
| Bass | 4 | Lower to 4 to keep the sound tight and focused, avoiding muddiness. |
| Master | 6 | Output level — set to the volume you're playing at; this sets loudness, not tone. |
| Effects | Pitch Shifter | Engage the pitch shifter effect to emulate the octave-down bass-like effect in the main riff. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
Section guide — how the tone changes through the song
Main Riff
The main riff uses a gritty distortion with the Pro Co Rat pedal emulation.
- the pedal: Gain → 8
Solo
The solo uses a fuzz effect similar to the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi.
- the pedal: Gain → 9
What The White Stripes actually used
Recorded at Toe Rag Studios in London, 'Seven Nation Army' features Jack White's 1950s Kay archtop guitar tuned to Open A. The iconic riff was achieved by running the guitar through a DigiTech Whammy pedal set an octave down, creating a bass-like tone. The solo incorporates an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi for added fuzz. Amplification was provided by a mid-1960s Sears Silvertone 1485 head connected to 6x10 Jensen C10Q ceramic speakers.
- 1950s Kay K6533 archtop hollowbody — main riff. neck pickup
- DigiTech Whammy WH-4 — octave down effect. set to octave down
- Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi — fuzz effect. used during solo
- Mid-1960s Sears Silvertone 1485 — amplification. paired with 6x10 Jensen C10Q ceramic speakers
Tuning: Open A (E A E A C# E)
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://guitar.com/features/artist-rigs/the-gear-used-by-jack-white-on-the-white-stripes-elephant/
- https://www.musicradar.com/artists/it-was-just-a-challenge-to-myself-im-not-gonna-have-a-chorus-in-this-song-see-if-i-can-get-away-with-it-how-jack-white-created-the-guitar-riff-of-the-century-and-what-is-a-seven-nation-army-anyway
- https://tonesmatch.com/tones/seven-nation-army-the-white-stripes-solo-distorted-5890