How to Dial In "Hey" by Alvvays - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Hey"
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 Antisocialites (2017). Antisocialites is the second studio album by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on September 8, 2017, through Polyvinyl, Royal Mountain, Transgressive and Inertia. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Player Jaguar through a Vox AC30HW2X Hand-Wired, the rig we use for Alvvays' other songs from Antisocialites, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck pickup. Standard tuning. Alec O'Hanley has said the band used almost exclusively a Fender Champ on Antisocialites, as quoted on Equipboard; that is a secondhand source and the guitar is not named, so the rig above is unchanged.
Common Questions About the "Hey" Tone
What guitar did Alvvays use on "Hey"?
The guitar on "Hey" (released 2017) isn't documented; the Fender Player Jaguar above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Hey" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 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 "Hey" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Hey" 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 "Hey" by Alvvays are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.