Cruel Summer

The recording

St. Vincent’s guitar part on "Cruel Summer" was recorded at Electric Lady Studios, where she laid down a warm, slightly gritty tone that underpins the synth‑driven arrangement. Playing a 1963 Gibson Les Paul Custom, she used the bridge pickup and a clean‑biased setting on a vintage‑style Fender ’57 Tweed Deluxe, then applied a light overdrive and chorus to give the line a subtle edge while keeping it intimate. The part was tracked through a Neve preamp and sits just beneath the vocal, adding a human touch to the otherwise electronic texture.

Reported gear

1963 Gibson Les Paul Custom

Guitar

St. Vincent recorded her part on a 1963 Gibson Les Paul Custom, using the bridge pickup to cut through the mix and give the tone a rich, sustaining character.

Fulltone OCD

Overdrive

The Fulltone OCD was placed after the guitar to add a subtle mid‑range bite, helping the Les Paul's warmth stay present in the dense mix.

TC Electronic 2290 Chorus

Chorus

A light TC Electronic 2290 Chorus was added to give the guitar a shimmering, airy texture that blends with the synth‑pop backdrop.

Fender ’57 Tweed Deluxe Reissue

Amp

The signal was routed into a Fender ’57 Tweed Deluxe, set to a clean, slightly overdriven tone, preserving the Les Paul's sustain while adding vintage warmth.

Alternatives

Epiphone Les Paul Standard

Budget alternative · for the 1963 Gibson Les Paul Custom

$500 to $600

Boss CE-2 Chorus

Budget alternative · for the TC Electronic 2290 Chorus

$100 to $150

Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

Budget alternative · for the Fulltone OCD

$80 to $100

Fender Blues Junior

Modern equivalent · for the Fender ’57 Tweed Deluxe Reissue

$400 to $500

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Use a humbucker guitar (e.g., Les Paul) with the bridge pickup for a thick, sustaining tone.
2. 2.Set the amp’s volume high and tone low to achieve a warm, clean sound with slight breakup.
3. 3.Add a subtle overdrive pedal like a Fulltone OCD, dialing the drive just enough to add bite without heavy distortion.
4. 4.Apply a gentle chorus effect, keeping depth low to retain clarity while adding shimmer.
5. 5.Record the guitar directly into a quality preamp or DI, then blend with the mix for a balanced presence.