What amp settings do I need for Motown?

Across the 33 Motown tones in our catalog the median is gain 2 (range 1–3.5), with bass 6.5, mid 6, treble 5 - on a 0–10 scale. That's the window, not a recipe: pick any song below for the exact knob positions it was recorded with, then let ToneMirror re-voice them for your amp.

What gear gives you the Motown sound?

In our catalog the Motown tones lean most on the Precision Bass (modern equivalent: Fender American Vintage II 1960 Precision Bass), the Ampeg B-15N Portaflex, the Gibson ES-335. You don't need any of it - the match engine translates each recipe onto the gear you already own, compensating for a different EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type.

Which artists best represent Motown?

The Supremes, Four Tops, The Temptations have the most Motown tones catalogued here. Each artist page breaks down their full rig and how their tone changed across records.

Can I get these tones without buying vintage gear?

Yes - that's the point of ToneMirror. Every setting on this page was dialled in on the original artist's rig, and the match engine re-voices it for whatever guitar, amp, and pedals you actually have, including modellers like the Helix, Katana, and Kemper.

Genre · 33 tones

Motown Guitar Tone - Amp Settings, Gear, and Songs

33 iconic Motown tones with the exact settings behind them - gain, EQ, pickup, tuning, and pedal chain per song, plus the median amp settings across the whole style. 21 of them are bass tones. Built to be dialled in on whatever gear you own.

Adapt to my gear

Translate any Motown tone to the rig you already own

The Motown amp settings window

Median knob positions across the 33 catalog tones in this genre, on the amps they were recorded with. A starting point for the sound - then pick a song below for the exact recipe.

Gain: 2
Bass: 6.5
Mid: 6
Treble: 5
Presence: 3
Volume: 6

The rigs behind it

Gear That Defines the Motown Sound

Who defined it

Artists With the Most Motown Tones

The songs

Motown Tones You Can Dial In

FAQ

Common Questions About Motown Tone

What amp settings do I need for Motown?
Across the 33 Motown tones in our catalog the median is gain 2 (range 1–3.5), with bass 6.5, mid 6, treble 5 - on a 0–10 scale. That's the window, not a recipe: pick any song below for the exact knob positions it was recorded with, then let ToneMirror re-voice them for your amp.
What gear gives you the Motown sound?
In our catalog the Motown tones lean most on the Precision Bass (modern equivalent: Fender American Vintage II 1960 Precision Bass), the Ampeg B-15N Portaflex, the Gibson ES-335. You don't need any of it - the match engine translates each recipe onto the gear you already own, compensating for a different EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type.
Which artists best represent Motown?
The Supremes, Four Tops, The Temptations have the most Motown tones catalogued here. Each artist page breaks down their full rig and how their tone changed across records.
Can I get these tones without buying vintage gear?
Yes - that's the point of ToneMirror. Every setting on this page was dialled in on the original artist's rig, and the match engine re-voices it for whatever guitar, amp, and pedals you actually have, including modellers like the Helix, Katana, and Kemper.

Keep browsing

Related Genres

Browse all 33 Motown tones (A–Z)