How to Dial In "Hard Habit to Break" by Chicago - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Hard Habit to Break"
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 Chicago 17 (1984). Chicago 17 is the fourteenth studio album, seventeenth overall by American rock band Chicago, released on May 14, 1984. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson ES-335 through a Fender Deluxe Reverb, a warm, lightly driven pop-rock pairing, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in E♭ standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), a half step below standard.
Common Questions About the "Hard Habit to Break" Tone
What guitar did Chicago use on "Hard Habit to Break"?
The guitar on "Hard Habit to Break" (released 1984) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-335 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Hard Habit to Break" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 4.5, Volume 5.5. 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.
Can I play "Hard Habit to Break" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Hard Habit to Break" 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 "Hard Habit to Break" by Chicago are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.