Al Green Gets Next to You album cover - Al Green
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "I Can't Get Next to You" by Al Green - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "I Can't Get Next to You"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain1
Bass5
Mid5.5
Treble5
Presence5
Volume6

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone5.5
Volume7
Recording notes

From Al Green Gets Next to You (1971). Al Green Gets Next to You (alternatively known as Gets Next to You) is the third studio album by American soul singer Al Green, released in March 1971. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson ES-345 through a Fender Deluxe Reverb (Blackface), the rig we use for Al Green's other songs from Al Green Gets Next to You, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "I Can't Get Next to You" Tone

  1. What guitar did Al Green use on "I Can't Get Next to You"?

    The guitar on "I Can't Get Next to You" (released 1971) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-345 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "I Can't Get Next to You" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 1, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 5, Presence 5, Volume 6. 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.

  3. Can I play "I Can't Get Next to You" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I Can't Get Next to You" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "I Can't Get Next to You" by Al Green are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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