How to Dial In "If There Was a Way" by Dwight Yoakam - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "If There Was a Way"
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 If There Was a Way (1990). A honky-tonk shuffle with twangy Telecaster fills. Guitar World describes Pete Anderson's core sound on Yoakam's early records as a 1956 Telecaster into a modified 1965 Deluxe Reverb, but no source ties that rig to this 1990 recording, so a Custom Shop '56 Telecaster and a '65 Deluxe Reverb reissue stand in. Set the amp on the edge of breakup and use the bridge pickup. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "If There Was a Way" Tone
What guitar did Dwight Yoakam use on "If There Was a Way"?
The guitar on "If There Was a Way" (released 1990) isn't documented; the Fender Custom Shop 1956 Telecaster Heavy Relic above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "If There Was a Way" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5.5, 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 "If There Was a Way" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "If There Was a Way" 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 "If There Was a Way" by Dwight Yoakam are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.