How to Dial In "Don't Say You Love Me" by Billy Squier - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Don't Say You Love Me"
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 Hear & Now (1989). Hear & Now is the sixth studio album by American rock musician Billy Squier, released on June 14, 1989. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster through a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue, the nearest rig we use for Billy Squier's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Don't Say You Love Me" Tone
What guitar did Billy Squier use on "Don't Say You Love Me"?
The guitar on "Don't Say You Love Me" (released 1989) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster (AVRI Reissue) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Don't Say You Love Me" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 "Don't Say You Love Me" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Don't Say You Love Me" 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 "Don't Say You Love Me" by Billy Squier are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.