GET THE SOUND

Everything you need to know before playing ‘Message In A Bottle’

Summers was a one-guitar man in the early days, playing a 1963 Telecaster that had been modded with a Gibson PAF neck humbucker, an out of phase switch and a built-in preamp – though it’s the bridge single-coil pickup he favoured for Message In A Bottle. He used an Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger originally, but, assuming you don’t have one too, it’s worth experimenting with a chorus pedal to try and recreate the song’s watery shimmer. A dash of compression will help too.

Amp-wise, Summers told TG he doesn’t recall what he used in the studio, but Marshall 1959 Super Lead heads and Marshall cabs appeared in his live rig.