How to Dial In "Tulsa Time" by Eric Clapton - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Tulsa Time"
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.
Danny Flowers' song, taken from Backless (1978), the album Eric Clapton made at Olympic Studios in London with producer Glyn Johns. A relaxed, rolling shuffle where the guitar stays clean and lets the rhythm swing, with short fills between the vocal lines. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue stands in. Clapton's Blackie Stratocaster was his favourite studio guitar in this period, according to his tech Willie Spears, but that account doesn't tie it to this song. Use the middle and bridge pickups together and set the amp clean, with the treble up for definition. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Tulsa Time" Tone
What guitar did Eric Clapton use on "Tulsa Time"?
The guitar on "Tulsa Time" (released 1978) isn't documented; the Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: middle + bridge (position 4) on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Tulsa Time" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 5, Volume 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 "Tulsa 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 "Tulsa 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.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Tulsa Time" by Eric Clapton are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.