How to Dial In "On Green Dolphin Street" by Barney Kessel - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "On Green Dolphin Street"
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 The Poll Winners (1957). The Poll Winners is an album by jazz guitarist Barney Kessel with drummer Shelly Manne and bassist Ray Brown that was recorded in 1957 and released by Contemporary Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson ES-175 through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, a common rig for this kind of sound, stands in. Set the amp clean, with the gain barely up and use the neck pickup.
Common Questions About the "On Green Dolphin Street" Tone
What guitar did Barney Kessel use on "On Green Dolphin Street"?
The guitar on "On Green Dolphin Street" (released 1957) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-175 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "On Green Dolphin Street" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 5.5, 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.
Can I play "On Green Dolphin Street" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "On Green Dolphin Street" 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 "On Green Dolphin Street" by Barney Kessel are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.