How to Dial In "A Big Hunk o' Love" by Elvis Presley - Guitar Tone Settings
What Elvis Presley Actually Used on "A Big Hunk o' Love"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These are the numbers on the record. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Aaron Schroeder and Sidney Wyche wrote it, and Elvis Presley recorded it on 10 June 1958 in Nashville at his first and only session during his two years of Army service, with Steve Sholes producing. It was the first session without Scotty Moore and Bill Black. RCA Victor released it on 23 June 1959 with "My Wish Came True" on the B-side, and it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. Hank Garland played lead on a Gibson Byrdland, with Floyd Cramer on piano, Bob Moore on double bass, and D.J. Fontana and Buddy Harman on drums. The released take is spliced from takes three and four. No source names the amp. The guitar is a hard-driving rock and roll part with a fiery solo: play it on the bridge pickup with the amp pushed just into grit, and attack the strings. No transcription could be checked, so no tuning is given.
Common Questions About the "A Big Hunk o' Love" Tone
What guitar did Elvis Presley use on "A Big Hunk o' Love"?
Elvis Presley tracked "A Big Hunk o' Love" on a Gibson Byrdland (released 1959). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "A Big Hunk o' Love" need?
On the original amp: 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 "A Big Hunk o' Love" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "A Big Hunk o' Love" 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.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "A Big Hunk o' Love" by Elvis Presley are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.