Out of the Blue album cover - Electric Light Orchestra
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Wild West Hero" by Electric Light Orchestra - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Wild West Hero"

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.

Gain4
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume6

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

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume9
Recording notes

From Out of the Blue (1977). A lush, western-themed pop-rocker with warm layered guitars. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Vox AC30 C2 stands in. Use the middle pickup and set the amp to a medium-gain crunch. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Wild West Hero" Tone

  1. What guitar did Electric Light Orchestra use on "Wild West Hero"?

    The guitar on "Wild West Hero" (released 1977) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: middle pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Wild West Hero" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6. 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 "Wild West Hero" without the original gear?

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

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