California Über Alles

The recording

Recorded at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco in early 1980, the track was captured on a 16‑track tape machine by engineer Oliver DiCicco. East Bay Ray’s clean, trebly guitar tone was achieved by playing a Coral electric guitar while a tape‑echo unit (Echoplex) added a short slap‑back delay. The guitar was recorded direct with minimal processing, allowing the bright single‑coil pickup to cut through the mix.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

Coral electric guitar

Guitar

East Bay Ray recorded his parts on a Coral electric guitar, choosing it over his usual Fender Strats or Telecasters for the Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables sessions.

Echoplex tape echo

Delay

A tape echo unit (Echoplex) sat on the table beside Ray’s guitar, providing the subtle slap‑back delay heard on the clean rhythm tracks.

Alternatives

Squier Affinity Telecaster

Budget alternative · for the Coral electric guitar

$150 to $250

TC Electronic Flashback Delay

Modern equivalent · for the Echoplex tape echo

$150 to $250

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Use a single‑coil pickup (bridge position) on a clean amp setting with low gain.
2. 2.Set the delay to a short slap‑back (≈80‑120 ms) with no feedback.
3. 3.Pick near the bridge with a bright attack and add slight palm‑muting on rhythm parts.
4. 4.Keep the guitar volume high enough to drive the amp’s natural breakup but avoid distortion.