Beverly Hills

The recording

The track features Rivers Cuomo on a Fender Telecaster tuned to Eb, playing with the bridge pickup and a light overdrive (often a Tube Screamer) plus a Pro Co Rat for added crunch, while a Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah adds expressive sweeps. The guitar signal passes through a Vox AC30 head, recorded clean with the amp’s Top Boost off, and a Fender Talk Box is inserted for the solo, giving the vocal‑like phrasing; the mix places the guitar front‑and‑center with minimal reverb.

Tuning Eb Standard

Reported gear

Fender Telecaster (down 1 semitone, Eb tuning)

Guitar

Rivers Cuomo used a Fender Telecaster tuned down a half-step for the rhythm and lead parts on "Beverly Hills", delivering a bright, twangy tone.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal

Wah Pedal

A Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah adds subtle sweep accents throughout the track.

Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal

Overdrive Pedal

A light overdrive, often attributed to an Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, adds subtle grit before the amp.

Pro Co Rat Distortion Pedal

Distortion Pedal

A Pro Co Rat distortion, stacked with the overdrive, provides the higher-gain crunch heard in the chorus and bridge.

Vox AC30 head (1970s version)

Amplifier

The signal is fed into a Vox AC30 head, delivering the classic chime and mid‑range punch that defines the song's tone.

Talkbox

Fender Talk Box

Talkbox

A Fender Talk Box is used on the solo, shaping the guitar's tone into vocal‑like phrasing.

Alternatives

Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster

Budget alternative · for the Fender Telecaster (down 1 semitone, Eb tuning)

$400 to $500

Boss DS-1 Distortion

Modern equivalent · for the Pro Co Rat Distortion Pedal

$50 to $70

Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95

Modern equivalent · for the Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal

$70 to $100

Vox AC30 (reissue)

Reissue · for the Vox AC30 head (1970s version)

$1,300 to $1,800

Ibanez TS9 Mini

Modern equivalent · for the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer Overdrive Pedal

$70 to $90

Boss VT-1 Talk Box

Modern equivalent · for the Fender Talk Box

$200 to $300

Practical playing approach

Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.

1. 1.Tune your guitar a half‑step down to Eb to match the recorded pitch.
2. 2.Use the bridge pickup on a Telecaster for the bright, cutting tone.
3. 3.Engage the Cry Baby Wah lightly for subtle sweeps during verses.
4. 4.Set the Tube Screamer’s drive low and level high to add just enough grit before the AC30.
5. 5.Add a talkbox on the solo for the vocal‑like effect heard in the bridge.