Pretty Girls Make Graves by The Smiths (Solo · Clean) — Guitar Tone

The Pretty Girls Make Graves by The Smiths guitar tone is built on a Fender Twin Reverb, dialed in at gain 3.5/10, bass 5, mid 6.5, treble 7, presence 5 (community-researched baseline). Full breakdown below — then adapt every knob to your exact guitar and amp, free.

Amp settings (0–10)

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 540 rock tones in our researched catalog: Gain 3.5 sits below the rock average (4.8) — cleaner and more dynamic than typical rock; mids at 6.5 are right around average (6.2).

Guitar controls

Original gear

Guitar: 1983 Rickenbacker 330 · Amp: Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface, 1965 reissue or original)

Studio recording, 1984. Johnny Marr used his black Rickenbacker 330 for most of The Smiths' debut album sessions. The amp was almost certainly a Fender Twin Reverb, as used throughout the era. No evidence of Jaguar or Gibson 355 on this track. No evidence of live rig for this solo section.

Gear used on this tone

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Pickups

Bridge pickup

Signal chain

1983 Rickenbacker 330 → Fender Twin Reverb (Blackface, 1965 reissue or original)

Effects

reverb

Amp effects: Reverb (spring, level 6.5)

Tone character

bright and jangly, glassy top end, articulate and clear, lush ambient reverb, dynamic and touch-sensitive, slightly compressed, percussive attack, modest sustain, warm midrange, no audible overdrive

Recording context

studio

How it’s played

straight, medium tempo, medium dynamics · clean distortion. This shapes how hard the amp is pushed and where the EQ sits for the Pretty Girls Make Graves sound.

Difficulty

3/5 · Solo

The solo requires intermediate skill due to its clean, articulate picking, dynamic control, and the need for precise timing to maintain clarity in a jangly, reverb-heavy mix.

Worth knowing

• No direct source lists exact amp knob settings for this song; settings estimated based on typical Fender Twin Reverb use in 1980s indie rock.
• No explicit confirmation of pedal use for this solo section; pedalboard sources are general for The Smiths era.
• No evidence of Jaguar, Gibson 355, or other guitars for this solo; Rickenbacker 330 is most documented for this album.
• No evidence of chorus, delay, flanger, or phaser in the solo section; only amp reverb is clearly audible.
• No evidence of effects loop use; assumed direct into amp.
• No explicit pickup position stated; bridge pickup inferred from tone and typical Marr usage.
• Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Johnny Marr's solo tone on 'Pretty Girls Make Graves' is bright, jangly, and articulate, with minimal breakup—typical of his Fender Twin Reverb/Vox AC30 setups in the early Smiths era. The tone is mid-forward and cutting, with restrained bass and subtle amp reverb, matching both his style and the production of the period.

Pretty Girls Make Graves guitar tone — FAQ

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Sources

• Johnny Marr's Guitars, Amps, Pedals & Other Gear | Equipboard
• Johnny Marr's Guitars, Amps, Pedals & Other Gear | Equipboard
• Quintessential Rock Rigs by Decade - Premier Guitar

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