Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! album cover - Devo
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Shrivel-Up" by Devo - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Shrivel-Up"

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
Mid5.5
Treble7
Presence6.5
Volume6.5

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
Volume9
Recording notes

From Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978). Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! is the debut studio album by American new wave band Devo. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus, the rig we use for Devo's other songs from Q. Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Shrivel-Up" Tone

  1. What guitar did Devo use on "Shrivel-Up"?

    The guitar on "Shrivel-Up" (released 1978) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom 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 "Shrivel-Up" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, 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.

  3. Can I play "Shrivel-Up" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Shrivel-Up" 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 "Shrivel-Up" by Devo are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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