How to Dial In "Come On" by Chuck Berry - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Come On"
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.
Chuck Berry wrote it and released it on Chess in October 1961. It missed the US Hot 100, though its B-side, "Go Go Go", reached number 38 in the UK, and two years later the Rolling Stones chose it for their debut single. The liner notes of The Great Twenty-Eight list the players as Berry on vocals and guitar, Johnnie Johnson on piano, Ebby Harding on drums, L.C. Davis on tenor saxophone and Martha Berry on backing vocals. No source names the guitar, amp or effects. Play the bright, bouncing chord riff on the bridge pickup with the amp clean but pushed, and accent the off-beats. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Come On" Tone
What guitar did Chuck Berry use on "Come On"?
The guitar on "Come On" (released 1961) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-350T above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Come On" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3.5, Bass 5.5, 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 "Come On" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Come On" 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 "Come On" by Chuck Berry are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.