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Trust album cover - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Strict Time" by Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Guitar Tone Settings

Elvis Costello and the Attractions·1981·Trust
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The rig

Gear for "Strict Time"

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.

Gain2.5
Bass5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
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
Volume8
Recording notes

From Trust (1981). Trust is the fifth studio album by the English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, and his fourth with the Attractions, released on 23 January 1981 by F-Beat. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazzmaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the nearest rig we use for Elvis Costello and the Attractions' other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Strict Time" Tone

  1. What guitar did Elvis Costello and the Attractions use on "Strict Time"?

    The guitar on "Strict Time" (released 1981) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazzmaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Strict Time" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, 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 "Strict Time" without the original gear?

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

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