Real AmpTuning: Open A — EAEAC#EPickup: NeckBeginner FriendlyAlternative RockMost AccurateBest for Beginners
Elephant Octave Descent — Kay Bass Illusion & Big Muff Slide
Jack White recorded all three guitar voices with an early-1960s Kay K6533 archtop through a Sears Silvertone 1485. The apparent bass riff is the guitar shifted one octave down, while the solo adds a Big Muff after the Whammy; the documented original settings are reproduced below. Source: Guitar World’s “Secrets Behind Jack White’s Guitar Tone on Seven Nation Army” (2020).
Signal Chain
Early-1960s Kay K6533 archtop→DigiTech Whammy 4→Sears Silvertone 1485→Silvertone 1485 6x10 with Jensen C10Q speakers→Output
GuitarEarly-1960s Kay K6533 archtop
Tone
8
PickupNeck
TuningOpen A — EAEAC#E
Volume
10
PedalDigiTech Whammy 4
Mix
10
ModeOne octave down
Pedal PositionToe down
AmpSears Silvertone 1485
Bass
5
Reverb
0
Treble
7
Volume
6
Channel2
Tremolo0
Cab / IRSilvertone 1485 6x10 with Jensen C10Q speakers
MicClose dynamic
Mic PositionOff-axis, cap-edge transition
Notes
Use open-A tuning and allow the mildly driven Silvertone tone to remain rough. Engage the Big Muff only for the slide solo.
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See the same signal chain mapped to another platform. Knob values carry over as starting points — gain ranges differ between platforms.