How to Dial In "We Used to Vacation" by Cold War Kids - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "We Used to Vacation"
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 Robbers & Cowards (2006). Robbers & Cowards is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Cold War Kids. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson ES-335 through a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410 IV, the rig we use for Cold War Kids' other songs from Robbers & Cowards, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "We Used to Vacation" Tone
What guitar did Cold War Kids use on "We Used to Vacation"?
The guitar on "We Used to Vacation" (released 2006) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-335 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "We Used to Vacation" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 6, Mid 5, Treble 5, Presence 5, 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 "We Used to Vacation" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "We Used to Vacation" 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 "We Used to Vacation" by Cold War Kids are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.