How to Dial In "I'll Be with You Tonight" by Cheap Trick - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "I'll Be with You Tonight"
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 Dream Police (1979). Produced by Tom Werman at the Record Plant in Los Angeles between 1978 and 1979. Nielsen, Zander, Carlos and Petersson wrote it (3:52), and it came out as a UK single in March 1980. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the nearest rig to the one Cheap Trick is documented with, stands in. Set the amp at a driven crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "I'll Be with You Tonight" Tone
What guitar did Cheap Trick use on "I'll Be with You Tonight"?
The guitar on "I'll Be with You Tonight" (released 1979) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "I'll Be with You Tonight" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, 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 "I'll Be with You Tonight" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I'll Be with You Tonight" 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 "I'll Be with You Tonight" by Cheap Trick are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.