How to Dial In "Atop a Cake" by Alvvays - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Atop a Cake"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
- GuitarFender American Vintage II 1966 JazzmasterSuggested
- EffectReverbThe unit 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.
A track from Alvvays, the Canadian band's self-titled debut album, released in 2014, which topped the US college charts. The band is Molly Rankin on vocals and guitar, Alec O'Hanley on guitars, Kerri MacLellan on keyboards and Sheridan Riley on drums. The sources available here don't name the guitars or amps, so the rig is a suggestion. Play bright, jangly, reverb-soaked chords on the bridge pickup with a lightly overdriven amp, and keep the picking loose and fast. No transcription could be checked, so no tuning is given.
Common Questions About the "Atop a Cake" Tone
What guitar did Alvvays use on "Atop a Cake"?
The guitar on "Atop a Cake" (released 2014) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazzmaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Atop a Cake" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 6.5. 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 "Atop a Cake" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Atop a Cake" 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.
What effects are on "Atop a Cake"?
The recording has reverb on it. No source names the unit behind it, so this page doesn't guess one. ToneMirror maps each effect onto your rig - a pedal you own, your amp's own controls, or a block on a modeler - and says plainly when your rig can't make one.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Atop a Cake" by Alvvays are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.