When You Were Young

The recording

Dave Keuning recorded his parts for "When You Were Young" using a red Fender Stratocaster routed through an Ibanez AD‑9 and a Boss DD series delay before reaching a Fender Hot Rod DeVille amp set to a clean, low‑gain channel. The expansive digital delays create a spacious ambience that swells through the choruses, while the amp’s bright tone cuts through Flood and Alan Moulder’s dense production. The track was recorded in 2006 with producers Flood and The Killers, and mixed by Flood and Alan Moulder.

Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)

Reported gear

Fender Stratocaster (candy apple red)

Guitar

Keuning is known to have used his candy‑apple red Fender Stratocaster during the Sam's Town sessions, and it is attributed to the bright, ringing arpeggios in the intro of "When You Were Young".

Ibanez AD-9 Digital Delay

Delay

An Ibanez AD‑9 digital delay provides the spacious repeats that fill the choruses, adding depth to the guitar part.

Boss DD series Digital Delay

Delay

A Boss DD series pedal adds a subtle slap‑back echo on the verses, tightening the rhythm of the track.

Fender Hot Rod DeVille

Amp

The clean, shimmering tone on the track comes from a Fender Hot Rod DeVille, which Keuning set to a low‑gain channel to capture a bright, tube‑rich sound.

Alternatives

Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster

Budget alternative · for the Fender Stratocaster (candy apple red)

$300 to 350

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Still made · for the Boss DD series Digital Delay

$70 to 100

TC Electronic Flashback Delay

Budget alternative · for the Ibanez AD-9 Digital Delay

$120 to 150

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

Modern equivalent · for the Fender Hot Rod DeVille

$500 to 600

Practical playing approach

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

1. 1.Use the bridge pickup on the Stratocaster and let the notes ring into the delay.
2. 2.Set the delay to a dotted‑eighth‑note time (~300 ms) with low feedback for the chorus ambience.
3. 3.Keep the amp’s gain low and the treble high to retain clarity on the arpeggios.
4. 4.Add a subtle palm‑muted rhythm during verses to lock in with the drums.