🎸 Other · 2010s+

Moonlight on the River by Mac DeMarco (Riff · Clean) — Guitar Tone

by Mac DeMarco · riff

The Moonlight on the River by Mac DeMarco guitar tone is built on a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue 1x12 Combo Amplifier, dialed in at gain 0/10, bass 6, mid 5.5, treble 6, presence 5 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

🎛️ These settings are for the original rig — re-dial them for YOUR amp in 10 seconds. Free, no signup →

Amp settings (0–10)

GAIN

BASS

5.5

MID

TREBLE

PRESENCE

REVERB

Community-researched baseline. Your rig is different — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials every knob for your specific guitar, amp and pickups.

How these settings compare

Measured against the 1310 tones in our researched catalog: Gain 0 sits well below the catalog average (5.3) — cleaner and more dynamic than typical catalog; mids at 5.5 are right around average (5.9).

Guitar controls

7-8

VOLUME

6-7

TONE

Original gear

Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese Squier or Fender, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era) · Amp: Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue 1x12 Combo Amplifier

Studio recording, 2016-2017 (This Old Dog album sessions). Gear confirmed for this era and song by multiple sources. No evidence of alternate guitars or amps for the riff section.

Gear used on this tone

🎚️ Fender Deluxe Reverb songs & tones →🎚️ Fender Stratocaster songs & tones →🎚️ single-coil guitars songs & tones →🎚️ Ibanez RG songs & tones →

Don’t own this gear? GuitarToneAdapt re-creates the sound on the rig you actually have.

Pickups

Neck pickup (Stratocaster position 5)

Signal chain

Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese Squier or Fender, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era) → Ibanez SC-10 Super Stereo Chorus → Delay pedal (likely tape or analog, model unknown) → Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Nano → Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue 1x12 Combo Amplifier

Effects

chorus, delay, reverb

Amp effects: Reverb (spring, level 7.5)

Tone character

lush and modulated, dreamy, ambient wash, bright but smooth highs, soft, rounded attack, pronounced spring reverb, chorus/vibrato shimmer, clear single-coil articulation, subtle tape delay repeats, slightly compressed sustain, no audible drive or crunch

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, slow tempo, soft dynamics · clean distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Moonlight on the River sound.

Difficulty

2.5/5 · Riff

The riff requires clean, accurate chord work with subtle dynamics and timing to blend with modulation and delay effects, but does not involve advanced techniques or fast passages.

Worth knowing

Gain adjusted to 0 for clean tone
No direct studio photo or interview confirms the exact pedal models for the riff section, but chorus/vibrato, delay, and reverb are clearly audible and supported by multiple sources.
Amp settings are estimated based on typical Fender Deluxe Reverb clean/modulated tones and genre/era.
Guitar model inferred from Mac DeMarco's known studio use and live photos from the album era.
Exact pickup selector position is inferred from the warm, glassy, neck-pickup tone and Mac's typical usage.
Pedal settings are not available; effect types and likely models are based on era, artist's gear, and audio evidence.
Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Mac DeMarco's 'Moonlight on the River' riff features a warm, slightly gritty clean tone with prominent ambience. He typically uses low-gain settings on vintage-style amps (like a Fender Twin or Roland JC-120), moderate bass and mids for warmth, restrained treble to avoid harshness, and lush reverb for the dreamy, spacious feel.

⚡ Same tone, YOUR gear — re-dials the gain & EQ for your amp and pickups, free →

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Moonlight on the River guitar tone — FAQ

What amp settings do I need for the Moonlight on the River guitar tone?

Set your amp to roughly: gain 0, bass 6, mid 5.5, treble 6, presence 5, reverb 6. These are community-researched baselines — GuitarToneAdapt re-dials them for your exact guitar and amp.

What gear was used for the Moonlight on the River tone?

Original gear/effects: Guitar: Fender Stratocaster (likely Japanese Squier or Fender, as used by Mac DeMarco in this era) · Amp: Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue 1x12 Combo Amplifier; chorus, delay, reverb.

Can I get the Moonlight on the River tone on a different guitar or amp?

Yes. Different guitars and amps need different knob positions to sound the same. GuitarToneAdapt models pickup output and wood brightness, then compensates so you match the record on your own rig.

How do I sound like Mac DeMarco on Moonlight on the River — what gear and pedals?

Start with Neck pickup (Stratocaster position 5), the amp EQ above (gain 0, bass 6, mid 5.5, treble 6, presence 5, reverb 6), and chorus, delay, reverb. Then let GuitarToneAdapt compensate for the guitar, amp and pedals you actually own so it sits like the record.

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Sources

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More like this

🎸 How to get Mac DeMarco’s guitar tone → · 🎸 more Other guitar tones → · 🎚️ Fender Deluxe Reverb settings → · 🎸 more iconic guitar riffs → · 🎚️ Delay tone guide → · 🎯 more singing sustain tones → · 📖 New to amp settings? What every knob does →

Settings are community-researched estimates, not official. GuitarToneAdapt adapts them to your gear. guitartoneadapt.com