How to Dial In "U.S. Male" by Elvis Presley - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "U.S. Male"
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 it and released it first in late 1966, and it is on his 1967 debut album, The Unbelievable Guitar and Voice of Jerry Reed. Elvis Presley recorded his cover at RCA Studio B in Nashville on 16 January 1968 with Felton Jarvis producing, for the film Stay Away, Joe, and Reed played lead guitar, as he had on Presley's "Guitar Man" the previous September. RCA Victor released it on 27 February 1968 with "Stay Away" on the other side, and it reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. No source names the guitar, amp or effects. The part is Reed's fingerpicked swamp-country riff: pick it with your thumb and fingers on the bridge pickup through a clean amp, and snap the treble notes. No transcription could be checked, so no tuning is given.
Common Questions About the "U.S. Male" Tone
What guitar did Elvis Presley use on "U.S. Male"?
The guitar on "U.S. Male" (released 1968) 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 "U.S. Male" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5.5, 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 "U.S. Male" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "U.S. Male" 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 "U.S. Male" by Elvis Presley are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.