Bedtime for Democracy album cover - Dead Kennedys
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" by Dead Kennedys - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Where Do Ya Draw the Line"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain5
Bass5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume7

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume10
Recording notes

From Bedtime for Democracy (1986). Bedtime for Democracy is the fourth and final studio album by American punk rock band Dead Kennedys, released in November 1986 by Alternative Tentacles. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for Dead Kennedys' other songs from Bedtime for Democracy, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" Tone

  1. What guitar did Dead Kennedys use on "Where Do Ya Draw the Line"?

    The guitar on "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" (released 1986) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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.

  3. Can I play "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" by Dead Kennedys are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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