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Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
On "505" Alex Turner recorded his lead and rhythm parts with an Epiphone Casino, using the bridge pickup. The guitar volume was pulled back during the verses to keep the arpeggiated parts intimate, then opened up for the soaring choruses. The signal passed through an Electro‑Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man delay set for a single repeat of roughly half a second, then into a Vox AC30 C2 whose moderate gain and balanced EQ let the amp’s natural tube breakup swell organically. Additional rhythm guitars by Miles Kane further thicken the arrangement, but the core tone is defined by Turner’s Casino‑to‑AC30 chain.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
Epiphone Casino (2007 reissue)
Guitar
Alex Turner played an Epiphone Casino, using the bridge pickup to cut through the mix and rolling the volume back for the verses before opening it up for the soaring choruses.
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man (1990s)
Delay Pedal
A single‑repeat Electro‑Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man delay adds a spacious echo to the lead line, set to around 500 ms.
Vox AC30 C2 (2005‑present)
Combo Amp
The Casino was fed into a Vox AC30 C2, dialed with moderate gain and a balanced EQ that let the amp’s natural breakup swell through the song.
Alternatives
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
Budget alternative · for the Epiphone Casino (2007 reissue)
Vox AC15
Modern equivalent · for the Vox AC30 C2 (2005‑present)
TC Electronic Flashback Delay
Modern equivalent · for the Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man (1990s)
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Select the bridge pickup on the Casino.
- 2.Roll the guitar volume back for verses and open it up for choruses.
- 3.Set the Vox AC30’s gain to a moderate level and keep the EQ balanced (Bass, Mid, Treble) to let natural breakup shine.
- 4.Add a single‑repeat delay set to about 500 ms for the lead line.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the 505 guitar tone?
The available research points to Epiphone Casino (2007 reissue) into Vox AC30 C2 (2005‑present). The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original 505 amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is 505 in?
The current research record lists Standard (E A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the 505 tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
