How to Dial In "Cold Irons Bound" by Bob Dylan - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Cold Irons Bound"
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 Time Out of Mind (1997). A menacing, mid-tempo blues-rock stomp with a gritty, repeating guitar riff. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue stands in. Use the neck and middle pickups together and set the amp to a medium-gain crunch. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Cold Irons Bound" Tone
What guitar did Bob Dylan use on "Cold Irons Bound"?
The guitar on "Cold Irons Bound" (released 1997) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + middle (position 2) on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Cold Irons Bound" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, 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 "Cold Irons Bound" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Cold Irons Bound" 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 "Cold Irons Bound" by Bob Dylan are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.