Get this tone on your rig
Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Wide Open Spaces opens with a warm, clean electric rhythm guitar that sits on the right side of the mix, balancing the pedal steel on the left. The part was recorded at Westwood Studios in Nashville with engineer John Guess, using a Fender Telecaster played by Emily Strayer through a Fender Twin Reverb amp, captured with a condenser mic and a direct input for added clarity.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
Fender Telecaster
Guitar
Emily Strayer (Robison) used a Fender Telecaster for the clean, warm rhythm part on “Wide Open Spaces”, delivering the bright, twangy tone that balances the pedal steel.
Fender Twin Reverb
Amp
The Telecaster’s signal was routed through a Fender Twin Reverb, providing the clean, room‑filled sound heard on the track.
Alternatives
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
Budget alternative · for the Fender Telecaster
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Modern equivalent · for the Fender Twin Reverb
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Strum with a light, relaxed attack using a medium‑pick.
- 2.Select the bridge pickup for a bright, twangy country tone.
- 3.Apply slight palm‑muting on the downbeats to tighten the rhythm.
- 4.Let open strings ring to add sparkle to chord voicings.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Wide Open Spaces guitar tone?
The available research points to Fender Telecaster into Fender Twin Reverb. The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Wide Open Spaces 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 Wide Open Spaces in?
The current research record lists Standard (E A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Wide Open Spaces 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.
