How to Dial In "It's So Easy!" by Buddy Holly - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "It's So Easy!"
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.
Buddy Holly and Norman Petty wrote it, and the band recorded it between June and August 1958 at Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico. Brunswick released it under the Crickets' name on 12 September 1958 with "Lonesome Tears" on the B-side. It didn't chart, and it was the last Crickets release with Holly in the band; Linda Ronstadt made it a top-five hit in 1977. It is on the 1959 compilation The Buddy Holly Story. Tommy Allsup played the lead guitar parts, and Holly lip-synched it on American Bandstand that October. No source names the guitar, amp or effects. Play the driving chords on the bridge pickup with a clean, bright amp, and keep the lead fills short and snappy. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "It's So Easy!" Tone
What guitar did Buddy Holly use on "It's So Easy!"?
The guitar on "It's So Easy!" (released 1958) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "It's So Easy!" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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 "It's So Easy!" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "It's So Easy!" 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 "It's So Easy!" by Buddy Holly are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.