Get this tone on your rig
Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Showalter captured the guitar parts for "As It Was" in his Nashville studio, Mt. Molehill, by simply hitting record and improvising over the song. He used a Fender Telecaster, recorded directly into the console with a Neve preamp and a light amount of compression, then ran the signal through a clean Fender Deluxe Reverb tone. The resulting bright, melodic line sits prominently in the mix alongside the synth and rhythm section, giving the track its distinctive pop‑rock sparkle.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
Fender Telecaster
Guitar
Showalter recorded the guitar parts for "As It Was" with a Fender Telecaster, using the bridge pickup for a bright, cutting tone that sits prominently in the mix.
Fender Deluxe Reverb
Amp
The Telecaster was run through a Fender Deluxe Reverb at clean settings, providing the smooth, sparkling clean tone heard on the track.
Alternatives
Fender Player Telecaster
Modern equivalent · for the Fender Telecaster
Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue
Reissue · for the Fender Deluxe Reverb
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Select the bridge pickup on a Telecaster for a bright, cutting tone.
- 2.Use a clean amp setting with the bright switch on.
- 3.Add light compression to even out dynamics.
- 4.Apply subtle reverb for depth.
- 5.Play with a relaxed picking attack, letting the strings ring.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the As It Was guitar tone?
The available research points to Fender Telecaster into Fender Deluxe Reverb. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original As It Was 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 As It Was 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 As It Was 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.
