What’s on Kevin Parker’s Pedalboard?
It’s no secret that Tame Impala is one of the most inventive bands of recent times, thanks to Kevin Parker’s creative use of guitar effects. Although Kevin is known for using an enormous pedalboard filled with tons of pedals, you can get pretty close to the band’s signature psychedelic sound with a few smart choices.
Inspired by great acts of the past such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, the Tame Impala guitar tone varies a lot from album to album, as the band has been going for almost two decades, but there are many staples to their sound such as vintage-esque fuzz, a myriad of modulation effects and heavy ambience.
In this article, we will explore how to sound like Tame Impala with guitar pedals, showcasing what’s on the act’s pedalboard while giving you some great alternatives to get that mind-bending tone. Let’s get started!
In a hurry? Check out our quick guide with all of the featured pedals at the end of the article.
Exploring the Tame Impala Pedalboard
There are a few images of Tame Impala’s pedalboard on the internet. The one above is from around 2012, right around the time the album Lonerism was released, and some interesting pedals can be spotted, such as the Blues Driver, the Germanium Fuzz Face, and the MXR Dyna Comp (all staples in Kevin’s setup).
The modulation section is pretty big as well, boasting a classic Boss Chorus, a Diamond Vibrato, a Small Stone Phaser, and a Moogerfoger. Similarly, the setup also includes an array of time-based effects, including two reverbs from Electro Harmonix, and a delay unit.
One thing that Kevin Parker is also particularly known for is his unconventional pedal positioning. In some of the pictures found on the internet, we can see that the guitarist puts a Blues Driver after a reverb and a phaser, for example, so that’s something to keep in mind when recreating his setup.
For the sake of this article, we will focus on the basics you will need to sound like Tame Impala. Although the band’s signal chain might seem complex, it's not that hard to achieve a tone that’s very close to the original recordings.
Fuzz
To recreate Tame Impala’s fuzz tone heard on the band’s earlier records, you will need a Germanium Fuzz Face or a similar pedal and that’s it. Kevin explored a few other fuzz pedals throughout his career, but this one has been a staple in most of his records.
As we all know, the original Fuzz Face is a bit large and temperamental when it comes to tone stability, so you can either go with the mini version or any Germanium transistor pedal. Bonus points if it has a bias control, as some of Tame Impala’s songs feature that grittier fuzz tone.
Alternative Option: BLAMMO! Electronics L.A. Square Face (Germanium Version)
The Germanium version of the L.A. Square Face, by BLAMMO! Electronics is a no-brainer choice, as it's heavily based on the Fuzz Face and is much more compact than its vintage counterpart.
Overdrive
This section of Kevin’s pedalboard is pretty straightforward as well: he uses a pair of Boss BD-2 Blues Driver overdrive pedals, one right after his Fuzz Face, and one near the end of the signal chain. If you’re on a budget though, you can get away with using a single unit, but make sure to experiment with its position on your pedalboard.
As Tame Impala’s guitar tone is often drenched in modulation and time-based effects, the overdrive you pick won’t make that much of a difference, but having one is essential. Just make sure to choose a low to medium gain unit.
Alternative Option: Warm Audio Warmdrive
Although not exactly a recreation of the BD-2, the Warmdrive does pretty well at delivering a myriad of low-gain overdrive tones, thanks to the many parameters you can find on it. The Voice knob in particular is very interesting to experiment with.
Chorus
Kevin Parker uses a BOSS CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, a vintage pedal that’s rare to find. Although the CE-1 is one of the most appraised pedals in the guitar community, it can cost more than a grand. Luckily, there are a few units in the market that cost way less and can recreate the effect very well.
Alternative Option: Warm Audio WA-C1 Chorus Vibrato
As you can probably guess from its appearance, the WA-C1 is a faithful recreation of the CE-1, complete with both the chorus and the vibrato sections. Costing way less than the original Boss version, it is very well-built and sounds extremely close to the original.
Alternative Option: BMF Effects Liquid Sky Chorus
If the WA-C1 is too big for your pedalboard and you prefer a more compact solution, the BMF Effects Liquid Sky Chorus is a superb choice. Although it's priced a little higher than the Warm Audio pedal, it is also very faithful to that Boss Chorus sound.
Phaser
Another staple in Kevin Parker’s pedalboard is the phaser effect. The guitarist’s choice is the Electro Harmonix Small Stone, particularly the vintage version. The Small Stone is a pretty straightforward, easy-to-use pedal, and the modern version sounds just as good as the older model.
Alternative Option: Mojo Hand FX Mr O
One great alternative for the Small Stone is the Mr O Phase Shifter, by Mojo Hand FX. This pedal is very similar to the EHX one, featuring a Color knob and a few extra parameters that make it even more versatile, such as Speed, Depth, and Phase Stage controls.
Vibrato
When it comes to Vibrato, Kevin’s choice is the Diamond Vibrato. The version he uses isn’t sold by the company anymore, so it’s a rare find. However, Diamond Effects does make an updated, more compact version that’s worth looking into.
If you’re on a budget or prefer a compact setup, we suggest you skip a vibrato pedal and go with a chorus+vibrato combo such as the aforementioned Warm Audio WA-C1 as it will cover a lot of ground.
Alternative Option: EarthQuaker Devices Aqueduct
If you still want to add a vibrato pedal to your Tame Impala-inspired pedalboard, the EarthQuaker Devices Aqueduct is a great choice, as it has similar parameters to the Diamond pedal and goes even further than the traditional sine vibrato.
Delay
Delay is a big part of the Tame Impala sound, and Kevin’s choice seems to be the MXR Carbon Copy, although we suspect he used more than one delay pedal at times. For emulating the band’s style, any analog delay should work perfectly, but you’ll get even closer if you pair two units.
Alternative Option: Cusack Music Tap-a-Delay
If you want to have lots of possibilities at your disposal, the Cusack Music Tap-a-Delay is a strong contender, boasting similar features to the Carbon Copy delay and a few more tricks upon its sleeve, such as the brake mode.
Alternative Option: EarthQuaker Devices Silos
The EarthQuaker Devices Silos feature three distinct delay modes (digital, analog, and tape) and a preset bank in a compact enclosure. This unit is almost as small as the Carbon Copy and has a few extra functions.
Reverb
According to our research, Kevin Parker uses two vintage Electro Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb units, one right after his fuzz and overdrive, and one near the end of the signal chain, before a few modulation pedals.
While the vintage Holy Grail Reverb is a classic pedal that sounds amazing, any similar pedal with hall and spring settings will nail the job. The most important thing is to experiment with the positioning of the reverb on your signal chain.
Alternative Option: Cusack Music Resound
The Cusack Music Resound is a great choice of reverb, particularly if you’re interested in venturing through Tame Impala’s ambience drenched psychedelic sound and beyond. Unlike smaller units, it boasts some very unique features such as the Cascade and Trails mode, and has the ability to store presets.
Compressor
Kevin Parker uses the MXR Dyna Comp as his compressor, a simple yet powerful pedal that can do wonders for any kind of tone. This pedal stays on in pretty much all of Tame Impala’s songs, to give the guitar that sought-after jangly impact.
Alternative Option: BMF Effects Little Red Compressor
The BMF Effects Little Red Compressor is inspired by the vintage versions of the Dyna Comp, featuring the same Volume and Sustain parameters. As the company’s build quality is very good, it’s definitely worth looking into this pedal for a straightforward compression solution.
Wrapping Up: What Are the Essential Pedals to Sound Like Tame Impala?
Let’s say you’re on a budget and can only pick four pedals: what are the essentials to sound like Tame Impala then? In that case, we recommend you pick an overdrive, a phaser, a delay, and a reverb. That should be enough to cover a lot of ground, although you might want to add more effects to your chain later.
Another convenient option is to go with a multi-effects pedal such as the Line 6 ones or a Hotone, for a more budget-conscious solution. You can currently get the Hotone Ampero One on our website for only $299.
Extra Tips to Sound Like Tame Impala
Use a Single Coil Guitar
If you’re a fan of Tame Impala, you already know that Kevin Parker loves his 1967 Rickenbacker 335 Jetglo, a jangly single coil-equipped guitar. Although he used a Stratocaster for Innespeaker, he’s been playing the Jetglo since the band’s 2010 tour.
While you don’t need a Rickenbacker to get close to Tame Impala’s guitar tone, it's best to go for a single coil guitar such as a Strat, Jaguar, or Jazzmaster. This will help you nail that bright tone the band is known for.
Tune Your Guitar Down a Full Step
Something that makes Tame Impala’s guitar tone so special is the fact that all instruments are tuned a full step down, allowing for easier and higher bends, and giving the sound a unique characteristic.
Experiment With Different Pedal Positionings
As we mentioned before, Kevin Parker isn’t very orthodox when it comes to pedal positionings. His pedalboard has some effects in unusual positions such as a reverb unit before modulation and an overdrive at the end of the signal chain. This is a huge part of what makes Tame Impala’s sound so special.
Try Different Amps and Recording Techniques
Kevin Parker’s amplifier of choice is the Vox AC30, but similar-sounding amps should get you close to his tone. One particularly interesting recording technique he used for the album Lonerism is recording the guitar going straight into a DI tube preamp, so make sure to try that as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Guitar Pick Does Kevin Parker Use?
According to our research, Kevin Parker used the Jim Dunlop Nylon 0.73mm during the Currents tour, but there’s no information if he’s still using them.
Can I Achieve the Tame Impala Sound Using Only Digital Pedals or Multi-Effects Units?
While Kevin Parker is known for using analog pedals, it’s totally possible to achieve a similar sound using digital or multi-effects units, you just need to be able to replicate the effects settings.
Conclusion
While Tame Impala’s setup might seem complex at first glance, nailing their signature guitar tones comes down to experimenting with different settings, techniques, and pedal positionings. Kevin Parker is nowhere near traditional when it comes to his playing, so don’t be afraid to go wild with the effects.
Last but not least, make sure to use this article as a basis to develop your own unique guitar tone! Here is a recap of all the pedals mentioned in this blog post:
|
Effect |
Pedal |
Price |
|
Fuzz |
From $149.99 (New) |
|
|
Fuzz |
$164.99 |
|
|
Overdrive |
From $99.99 (New) |
|
|
Overdrive |
$149.00 |
|
|
Chorus |
From $549 (Used) |
|
|
Chorus |
$189.00 |
|
|
Chorus |
$249.00 |
|
|
Phaser |
From $70 (New) |
|
|
Phaser |
$159.00 |
|
|
Vibrato |
From $279 (New) |
|
|
Vibrato |
$199.00 |
|
|
Delay |
From $149.99 (New) |
|
|
Delay |
$195.00 |
|
|
Delay |
$149.00 |
|
|
Reverb |
From $137.90 (New) |
|
|
Reverb |
$280.00 |
|
|
Compressor |
From $99.99 (New) |
|
|
Compressor |
$219.00 |
You can check these and many other pedals in our store!
More Interesting Reads:
Pedal Stacking 101: Combining Effects for Unique Sounds
How to Sound Like John Mayer With Guitar Pedals
How to Sound Like John Frusciante With Guitar Pedals
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