How to Dial In "Hillbilly Deluxe" by Brooks & Dunn - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Hillbilly Deluxe"
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 Hillbilly Deluxe (2003). Hillbilly Deluxe is the tenth studio album by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn, released in 2005 on Arista Nashville. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Custom Shop 1968 Telecaster Heavy Relic through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for Brooks & Dunn's other songs from Hillbilly Deluxe, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "Hillbilly Deluxe" Tone
What guitar did Brooks & Dunn use on "Hillbilly Deluxe"?
The guitar on "Hillbilly Deluxe" (released 2003) isn't documented; the Fender Custom Shop 1968 Telecaster Heavy Relic above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge 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 "Hillbilly Deluxe" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5.5, Bass 5.5, 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 "Hillbilly Deluxe" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Hillbilly Deluxe" 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 "Hillbilly Deluxe" by Brooks & Dunn are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.