Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
disiniblud
Artists “It creates a tone that you can't find in Guitar Center”: Disiniblud on the self-built instruments behind their debut LP
Jamie The Ks
Artists The K’s speak to us about leading the guitar band fightback
Lifeguard's Kai Slater, Isaac Lowenstein and Asher Case
Artists Lifeguard on abstract noise and pop hooks – and the creative epiphanies behind their stellar debut
rival
Artists “You end up doing different things with a plugin versus a hardware synth”: Rival Consoles on why he still uses a Prophet emulation – even though he owns the real thing
South Arcade
Artists South Arcade on how they became the figureheads of a growing Y2K revival
Aaron Comess of the Spin Doctors
Artists “I used the snare I played on Two Princes”: Why the Spin Doctors are still rocking with the gear they used in the ’90s
Joe Bonamassa plays a vintage Gibson Les Paul SG equipped with a Maestro Vibrola. He wears a gray patterned suit and sunglasses.
Artists Joe Bonamassa announces new album, Breakthrough – listen to the title-track now
  1. Artists
  2. Guitarists

In the studio: Don Broco

News
By Matt Parker ( Total Guitar ) published 28 July 2015

Their second album may be 'Automatic', but it's not machine-like

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

Bedford Brit-rockers Don Broco penned their debut album, 2013’s Priorities, on the road in their tour van, with guitarist Simon Delaney jamming through a practice amp that he’d wedged under his seat.

"It was a bit more calculated and a bit less scattergun in approach"

New album, Automatic, is a more considered affair, with most of the songs first finding life on an acoustic, before being quickly recorded and shared with the group.

“It resulted in hundreds and hundreds of riffs getting cut, but then one would stick,” explains Simon of the process. “It was a bit more calculated and a bit less scattergun in approach, but I think the songs got honed a lot more. Though you never know whether that’s for better or worse!”

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
Tight ain't right

Tight ain't right

Perhaps sensing that danger, producer Jason Perry - who they lived with for two months at Angelic Residential Recording Studio in Oxford - was keen to ensure that the new record still felt organic, and set about pushing his proteges.

"A listener doesn’t care about meticulous tightness"

“The big thing that Jason taught us is that a listener doesn’t care about meticulous tightness on a record,” says Simon. “The things that provoke an emotional connection tend to be playing slightly behind the beat. I’d never thought about that and I found it really quite testing.”

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Picking PRS

Picking PRS

Picking guitar tones to match the epic funked-up rock riffery and whopping choruses of new tracks such as Fire and Nerve was less of a challenge, however, with Simon’s long-favoured PRS Custom 22 leading the charge.

"If I wasn’t using my PRS, I’d be using my Tele or my Pawn Shop Strat"

“It’s just been my go-to for years,” he says. “I did loads of the last record on it and it feels like the right guitar to play for so many parts. I also have an S2 Custom 24, which goes really well with my EHX POG. Then, for the cleans, if I wasn’t using my PRS, I’d be using my Tele or my Pawn Shop Strat.”

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
Amp'd up

Amp'd up

The amp selections were also suitably wholemeal, with a tasty selection of valve heads and combos including a Marshall JCM800/Vox AC30 pairing for the overdriven sounds and a Bluesbreaker or a Swart Atomic Space Tone for the cleans.

"It sounds like this awesome, hellish synth - but it’s all done on guitar!"

“One of my favourites tones was on Superlove,” reckons Simon. “The chorus part is a JCM800 with a Tube Screamer and the POG doing both an octave below and two octaves below. Then we doubled it up with a RAT, and it sounds like this awesome, hellish synth - but it’s all done on guitar!”

Don Broco's second album Automatic is released on Epic Records on 7 August.

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
Categories
Guitars
Matt Parker
Matt Parker

Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
disiniblud
“It creates a tone that you can't find in Guitar Center”: Disiniblud on the self-built instruments behind their debut LP
Jamie The Ks
The K’s speak to us about leading the guitar band fightback
Lifeguard's Kai Slater, Isaac Lowenstein and Asher Case
Lifeguard on abstract noise and pop hooks – and the creative epiphanies behind their stellar debut
rival
“You end up doing different things with a plugin versus a hardware synth”: Rival Consoles on why he still uses a Prophet emulation – even though he owns the real thing
South Arcade
South Arcade on how they became the figureheads of a growing Y2K revival
Aaron Comess of the Spin Doctors
“I used the snare I played on Two Princes”: Why the Spin Doctors are still rocking with the gear they used in the ’90s
Latest in Guitarists
Fender Custom Shop Ariel Posen Stratocaster: Posen's new signature model was inspired by the Jazzmaster and has custom-wound AP-90 pickups. Check out those cupcake-style control knobs.
Ariel Posen’s new Custom Shop signature Strat is A) stunning and B) inspired by a… Jazzmaster?
Daron Malakian of System of a Down performs live in a wide-brimmed had with a custom Flying V with an open-book Gibson headstock.
Daron Malakian on how synth leads the guitar on his new album and why he doesn’t stick to one style
Arianna Powell and Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo’s lead guitarist says that she cried after learning that she'd get to play with Robert Smith
Mk.gee
Mk.gee’s collaboration with Justin Bieber has arrived on Bieber’s surprise new album, Swag
Jackson Pro Series Misha Mansoor Juggernaut HT7 and HT7P
Misha Mansoor spills blood as a home shopping TV presenter to unveil new signature Jackson 7-strings
Dickey Betts and Warren Haynes live onstage with the Allman Brothers Band in 1992. Haynes wears a patterned shit and plays his Les Paul Standard.
Warren Haynes on what Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts told him when he joined the Allman Brothers Band
Latest in News
Barry Can't Swim
Barry Can’t Swim has no time for people who have an issue with artists using synth presets
EarthQuaker Devices Easy Listening Analog Amp Simulator: the compact single-knob pedal can be used as a headphones amp or on your pedalboard as a preamp whose signal can be sent direct to desk or DAW.
EarthQuaker Devices launches headphones amp mini-pedal that you can use to record with
Field Music and The Doors
“We can fill a hole in our dire finances”: Mercury nominated Field Music are now a Doors tribute act
Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks
50 years after leaving Genesis, Peter Gabriel has reunited with Tony Banks on a new project
Miley Cyrus performs during Miley Cyrus Billions Club Series Paris at Maxim's on June 18, 2025 in Paris, France
“I have the physical ability. I wish I had the desire, but I don’t”: Miley Cyrus explains why she's not touring
Fender Custom Shop Ariel Posen Stratocaster: Posen's new signature model was inspired by the Jazzmaster and has custom-wound AP-90 pickups. Check out those cupcake-style control knobs.
Ariel Posen’s new Custom Shop signature Strat is A) stunning and B) inspired by a… Jazzmaster?

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...