How to Dial In "What Could Have Been Love" by Aerosmith - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "What Could Have Been Love"
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 Music from Another Dimension! (2012). A slow power ballad. No source documents the guitar or amp on this track, so a Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s into a Marshall JCM800 2203 stands in. Set a light-to-medium crunch on the bridge pickup and dig in harder for the louder sections. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "What Could Have Been Love" Tone
What guitar did Aerosmith use on "What Could Have Been Love"?
The guitar on "What Could Have Been Love" (released 2012) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "What Could Have Been Love" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 7.5. 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 "What Could Have Been Love" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "What Could Have Been Love" 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 "What Could Have Been Love" by Aerosmith are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.