How to Dial In "Persiana Americana" by Soda Stereo - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Persiana Americana"
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 Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Standard tuning. Soda Stereo are the most important rock band in the Spanish-speaking world and Gustavo Cerati one of its most influential guitarists, and this is his clearest early statement: chorused, delayed, clean arpeggios in the manner of the Police and early U2, but voiced higher and more sparsely. Keep the amp genuinely clean — a solid-state Roland-type voicing suits it better than a valve breakup — with heavy chorus and a delay set to a dotted-eighth against the tempo. Set the gain near zero and the treble up. Recorded 1986 for Signos, the album that broke the band across Latin America. The riff is played on the top strings only; using the low end kills it.
Common Questions About the "Persiana Americana" Tone
What guitar did Soda Stereo use on "Persiana Americana"?
Soda Stereo tracked "Persiana Americana" on a Stratocaster (released 1986). The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Persiana Americana" need?
On Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus: Gain 3, Bass 4.5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 6. 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 "Persiana Americana" without a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Persiana Americana" 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 "Persiana Americana"?
The original signal chain for "Persiana Americana" runs through Boss CE-2 Chorus, Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man. 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 "Persiana Americana" by Soda Stereo are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.