How to Dial In "Guitar Man" by Elvis Presley - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Guitar Man"
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.
Jerry Reed wrote and recorded it in 1967, and Elvis Presley covered it at RCA Studio B in Nashville on 10 September 1967 with Felton Jarvis producing. Presley wanted it to sound like Reed's record, and Reed told Jarvis that the session players were straight pickers, while he picked with his fingers and tuned the guitar "up all weird kind of ways", so Jarvis hired Reed to play it. It is on the Clambake soundtrack, and RCA released it as a single in January 1968 with "High Heel Sneakers" on the B-side. No source names the guitar, amp or effects. The part is a funky, fingerpicked country riff with a thumbed bass line under snapping treble notes: pick with your thumb and fingers on the bridge pickup through a clean amp. Reed's tuning isn't documented, so none is given.
Common Questions About the "Guitar Man" Tone
What guitar did Elvis Presley use on "Guitar Man"?
The guitar on "Guitar Man" (released 1967) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Guitar Man" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6, 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.
Can I play "Guitar Man" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Guitar Man" 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 "Guitar Man" by Elvis Presley are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.