How to Dial In "Vampire Empire" by Big Thief - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Vampire Empire"
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 Vampire Empire / Born for Loving You (2023). A loose, rolling folk-rock song with a warm, lightly overdriven electric guitar. Reverb and Guitar World, in 2022 interviews, have both Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek playing Collings guitars through Magnatone Twilighter amps, with Meek's Collings I-35 on ThroBak humbuckers. Nothing published ties a rig to this song, so a Collings I-35 LC into a Magnatone Twilighter stands in. Keep the amp clean, just on the edge of breakup, and play the neck pickup. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Vampire Empire" Tone
What guitar did Big Thief use on "Vampire Empire"?
The guitar on "Vampire Empire" (released 2023) isn't documented; the Collings I-35 LC above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Vampire Empire" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, 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 "Vampire Empire" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Vampire Empire" 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 "Vampire Empire" by Big Thief are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.