How to Dial In "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future" by Dance Gavin Dance - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future"
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 Downtown Battle Mountain (2007). Downtown Battle Mountain is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, released on 15 May 2007 by Rise Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a PRS Custom 24 through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, the rig we use for Dance Gavin Dance's other songs from Downtown Battle Mountain, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future" Tone
What guitar did Dance Gavin Dance use on "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future"?
The guitar on "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future" (released 2007) isn't documented; the PRS Custom 24 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. 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 "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future" 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 "Turn Off the Lights, I'm Watching Back to the Future" by Dance Gavin Dance are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.