How to Dial In "Waterloo" by ABBA - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Waterloo"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Waterloo (1974). Waterloo is the second studio album by the Swedish pop group ABBA, and the first released internationally. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the nearest rig we use for ABBA's other songs, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the neck and middle pickups together. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "Waterloo" Tone
What guitar did ABBA use on "Waterloo"?
The guitar on "Waterloo" (released 1974) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + middle (position 2) on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Waterloo" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 4.5. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Waterloo" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Waterloo" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Waterloo" by ABBA are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.