How to Dial In "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Marshall JCM800 2203. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
The lyrics are an unfinished Woody Guthrie poem, set to music by the band from Guthrie's archive — which is the fact most people do not know about a song they have heard a thousand times, largely through The Departed. Musically the hook is not the guitar: it is the banjo and mandolin figure doubled by tin whistle and bagpipes, and the electric guitar's job is to hammer straight eighth-note power chords underneath without competing. So keep the tone mid-forward but not enormous, and leave the top end for the acoustic instruments. Standard tuning, two and a half minutes, no solo. Recorded 2005. Playing this with a scooped modern rock tone buries the melody instruments the song actually rides on.
Common Questions About the "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" Tone
What guitar did Dropkick Murphys use on "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"?
Dropkick Murphys tracked "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" on a Les Paul (released 2005). The Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" need?
On Marshall JCM800 2203: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, 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.
Can I play "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" without a Marshall JCM800 2203?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" 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.
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Tone references for "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.