7. Country Setup

The country setup traditionally tends to be clean, but here's the deal: modern styles sometimes dive into more intensity, where sound (and lick-wise) can occasionally explore the realms of blues and rock. Let's focus on the classic country sound for now.

Guitar:

The standard here is undoubtedly the Telecaster with the bridge pickup engaged, but that doesn't mean other guitars aren't allowed. Stratocaster types are becoming increasingly common under cowboy hats—what's crucial is guitars with a beautiful yet penetrating clean sound.

Amp:

Amplifiers with warm, clean sounds and lots of headroom (meaning plenty of volume reserves before it starts to distort) are the go-to. The Fender Twin is undoubtedly the classic choice, but many other high-powered amps with clear clean channels are suitable. Combos work well; 2x12 speakers deliver the necessary push, but decent sounds can also be crafted with a 12" speaker or 4 x 10" setups.

Effects:

... are used sparingly but purposefully. A chorus pedal adds breadth, particularly to clean sounds, while a compressor, for instance, can be employed during solo passages to generate sustained lead tones without distortion or to generally limit the sound's dynamics. The goal in both cases is to achieve a more consistent, assertive sound. If an overdriven sound is occasionally desired, using an overdrive pedal is a good call.

A "slap-back" effect is often employed—a short, relatively loud echo with only one repetition. Even more affordable, less luxurious delay pedals work well for this purpose. Reverb usually comes from the amp.

Schematic representation of a common country setup