How to Dial In "Ink" by Coldplay - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Ink"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
- GuitarFender American Vintage II 1972 Telecaster ThinlineSuggested
- AmpFender Hot Rod DeVille 212 IVSuggested
- EffectDelayThe unit 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 Ghost Stories (2014). A bright, atmospheric song with a delayed, arpeggiated guitar line. Equipboard and a Wikipedia-derived profile name a Telecaster Thinline '72 as Jonny Buckland's main electric on Viva la Vida, X&Y and Mylo Xyloto, and an older rig guide based on 2008 photos lists Fender Hot Rod DeVille combos, a Twin Reverb and a Marshall Plexi, but it is hearsay-grade and none of it is tied to this song. So a Fender American Vintage II 1972 Telecaster Thinline into a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212 IV stands in. Keep the amp clean, just on the edge of breakup, and play the neck and bridge pickups together. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "Ink" Tone
What guitar did Coldplay use on "Ink"?
The guitar on "Ink" (released 2014) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1972 Telecaster Thinline above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Ink" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 4, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 4.5. 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 "Ink" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Ink" 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.
What effects are on "Ink"?
The recording has delay on it. No source names the unit behind it, so this page doesn't guess one. ToneMirror maps each effect onto your rig - a pedal you own, your amp's own controls, or a block on a modeler - and says plainly when your rig can't make one.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Ink" by Coldplay are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.