Kid Charlemagne

The recording

On the 1976 Steely Dan track “Kid Charlemagne”, Larry Carlton delivered the iconic solo using his 1969 Gibson ES‑335 plugged into a vintage 1950s Fender Tweed Deluxe combo. The small‑format amp’s warm, slightly overdriven tone, combined with the ES‑335’s thick mid‑range, creates the fluid, vocal‑like phrasing that defines the solo. Carlton’s playing employs smooth legato lines with occasional volume‑pedal swells, giving the part a dynamic, expressive character that sits prominently in the mix.

Tuning Standard EADGBE

Reported gear

1969 Gibson ES-335

Guitar

Larry Carlton used his 1969 Gibson ES-335, nicknamed “Mr. 335”, for the solo on “Kid Charlemagne”, delivering a warm, singing tone that sits front‑and‑center in the mix.

Dunlop Volume Pedal (vintage)

Volume Pedal

Larry Carlton often used a vintage Dunlop volume pedal for dynamic swells, and its presence on the Steely Dan sessions is consistent with his rig of the era.

Fender Tweed Deluxe (1950s)

Amp

The ES‑335 was run through a vintage 1950s Fender Tweed Deluxe combo amp, giving the solo its characteristic warm overdrive and mid‑range bite that defines the “Kid Charlemagne” tone.

Alternatives

Epiphone ES-335

Budget alternative · for the 1969 Gibson ES-335

$500 to $800

Fender ’57 Custom Deluxe Reissue

Reissue · for the Fender Tweed Deluxe (1950s)

$1,500 to $1,800

Dunlop DVP1 Volume Pedal

Modern equivalent · for the Dunlop Volume Pedal (vintage)

$80 to $120

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Use a warm‑tone pickup (neck) on the ES‑335 and let the notes ring.
2. 2.Employ subtle volume‑pedal swells or control picking dynamics to shape the phrasing.
3. 3.Pick with a medium‑pick attack, allowing the Fender Deluxe’s natural compression to smooth the attack.
4. 4.Position the amp’s volume high and tone controls balanced to achieve the smooth overdrive heard on the solo.