How to Dial In "(Dance with the) Guitar Man" by Duane Eddy - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "(Dance with the) Guitar Man"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
- GuitarGretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body (DeArmond)Suggested
- AmpFender '68 Custom Vibrolux ReverbSuggested
- EffectEchoThe 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.
Duane Eddy and Lee Hazlewood wrote it, and Hazlewood produced it at RCA's Nashville Sound Studio, with an Anita Kerr arrangement and the Blossoms singing as the Rebelettes. It was one of the singles Eddy made for RCA Victor after signing with Paul Anka's production company, Camy, in 1961. RCA Victor released it on 15 September 1962 with "Stretchin' Out" on the B-side; it reached number 4 in the UK, number 2 in Canada and number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it is the title track of his 1963 album Dance with the Guitar Man. Eddy's favoured guitar was the 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins model he bought in Phoenix, though Guild had introduced his DE-400 and DE-500 signature models in 1961, and no source names the guitar, amp or effects on this session. His sound is the melody played low on the bass strings, drenched in echo. Play it on the bridge pickup with the amp clean and loud and the bass up. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "(Dance with the) Guitar Man" Tone
What guitar did Duane Eddy use on "(Dance with the) Guitar Man"?
The guitar on "(Dance with the) Guitar Man" (released 1962) isn't documented; the Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Hollow Body (DeArmond) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "(Dance with the) Guitar Man" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 6.5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, 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.
Can I play "(Dance with the) Guitar Man" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "(Dance with the) Guitar Man" 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 "(Dance with the) Guitar Man"?
The recording has echo 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 "(Dance with the) Guitar Man" by Duane Eddy are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.