How to Dial In "Basketball Shoes" by Black Country, New Road - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Basketball Shoes"
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 Ants from Up There (2022). Ants from Up There (stylised as Ants From Up There) is the second studio album by the British rock band Black Country, New Road, released on 4 February 2022 on Ninja Tune. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for Black Country, New Road's other songs from Ants from Up There, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the neck pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "Basketball Shoes" Tone
What guitar did Black Country, New Road use on "Basketball Shoes"?
The guitar on "Basketball Shoes" (released 2022) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Basketball Shoes" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, 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 "Basketball Shoes" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Basketball Shoes" 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 "Basketball Shoes" by Black Country, New Road are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.