Silent Alarm album cover - Bloc Party
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Blue Light" by Bloc Party - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Blue Light"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain2.5
Bass5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume6.5

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume9
Recording notes

From Silent Alarm (2005). Angular post-punk with clean, chorused shimmer. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Vox AC30 C2 stands in. Use the neck pickup and set the amp clean, just short of breakup. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Blue Light" Tone

  1. What guitar did Bloc Party use on "Blue Light"?

    The guitar on "Blue Light" (released 2005) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Blue Light" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. 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.

  3. Can I play "Blue Light" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Blue Light" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Blue Light" by Bloc Party are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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