Madman Across the Water album cover - Elton John
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Levon" by Elton John - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Levon"

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.

Gain2
Bass5
Mid5.5
Treble6
Presence5.5
Volume4

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
Tone7
Volume7
Recording notes

From Madman Across the Water (1971). Madman Across the Water is the fourth studio album by British musician Elton John, released on 5 November 1971 by DJM and Uni Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for Elton John's other songs from Madman Across the Water, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the neck pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Levon" Tone

  1. What guitar did Elton John use on "Levon"?

    The guitar on "Levon" (released 1971) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Levon" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, Volume 4. 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 "Levon" without the original gear?

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

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