Get this tone on your gear
Choose your guitar and amp to get exact knob settings.
The recording
Recorded at Blackbird Studio D in Nashville, Use Somebody was a centerpiece of the album Only by the Night. The band, moving away from their earlier, more raw sound, worked closely with producers Angelo Petraglia and Jacquire King to focus on atmosphere and texture. Lead guitarist Matthew Followill crafted the song's recognizable widescreen hook, a delayed octave melody that contrasts with Caleb Followill’s rhythmic, sung accompaniment. The final character is defined by a clean, bright guitar signal layered with rhythmic delay and a lush studio reverb, giving the lead melody its distinctive, synth-like atmospheric quality.
Tuning Standard
Signal chain
Original gear
Epiphone Sheraton
Guitar · Matthew Followill · Solo
Used as the main guitar for the song's iconic delayed octave lead melody.
Matchless DC-30
Amp · Matthew Followill · Solo
Provided the core clean and bright amplification for the lead melody.
Line 6 DL4
Delay · Matthew Followill · Solo
Added rhythmic delay to the octave lead melody.
Eventide DSP4000
Multi-FX · Matthew Followill · Solo
Provided the lush studio reverb creating the synth-like sheen on the lead part.
Alternatives
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Play the iconic lead melody using octaves to capture the signature soaring tone.
- 2.Set your delay time to a dotted eighth note rhythm to match the song's pulsating feel.
- 3.Keep your guitar tone clean and chimey with moderate high-end presence.
- 4.Allow notes to sustain and ring out into the reverb tail for that atmospheric synth-like effect.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Use Somebody guitar tone?
The available recording research, reported gear and evidence links are listed in the signal chain on this page.
Are the original Use Somebody 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 Use Somebody in?
The current research record lists Standard. ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Use Somebody 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.
