How to Dial In "Avant Gardener" by Courtney Barnett - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Avant Gardener"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Hot Rod DeVille. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Deadpan, half-spoken slacker rock with wonderfully unhinged lead guitar. Barnett plays a lefty Jaguar into Fender combos (Hot Rod DeVille, Deluxe, Twin) — gritty, loose, and full of feedback; the wild feedback squall on the outro was reportedly a tiny cigarette-pack micro-amp. Bridge pickup, amp-and-Rat grit, deliberately ragged. The scrappy, unschooled-sounding lead breaks are the charm; don't clean it up or tighten it.
Common Questions About the "Avant Gardener" Tone
What guitar did Courtney Barnett use on "Avant Gardener"?
Courtney Barnett tracked "Avant Gardener" on a Jaguar (released 2013). The Fender Player Jaguar named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Avant Gardener" need?
On a Hot Rod DeVille: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 5, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Avant Gardener" without a Hot Rod DeVille?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Avant Gardener" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
What pedals are on "Avant Gardener"?
The original signal chain for "Avant Gardener" runs through ProCo Rat 2. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Avant Gardener" by Courtney Barnett are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.