How to Dial In "Promised Land" by Elvis Presley - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Promised Land"
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.
Elvis Presley's cover of Chuck Berry's 1964 hit, recorded in December 1973 at Stax in Memphis with Felton Jarvis producing. RCA released it as a single on 27 September 1974 with "It's Midnight" on the B-side; it reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK top ten, and it is the title track of the album released on 8 January 1975. James Burton played lead guitar, with Johnny Christopher on rhythm guitar and Charlie Hodge on acoustic; Dennis Linde and Alan Rush overdubbed more guitar. Burton is a Telecaster player: on stage with Presley he played a red Telecaster for the first Las Vegas season in 1969 and the pink paisley Telecaster he bought soon afterwards for every show after that. No source names the amp. Play the chicken-pickin' fills on the bridge pickup with a clean, bright amp. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Promised Land" Tone
What guitar did Elvis Presley use on "Promised Land"?
Elvis Presley tracked "Promised Land" on a Telecaster (released 1974). The Fender American Professional II Telecaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Promised Land" need?
On the original amp: Gain 3.5, Bass 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.
Can I play "Promised Land" 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 "Promised Land" 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 "Promised Land" by Elvis Presley are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.