How to Dial In "The Life" by Gary Clark Jr. - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Life"
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.
From Blak and Blu (2012). Blak and Blu is the major-label debut studio album by the American musician Gary Clark Jr., released on 22 October 2012 by Warner Bros. Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an Epiphone Casino through a Fender '64 Vibroverb Custom, the rig we use for Gary Clark Jr.'s other songs from Blak and Blu, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck pickup.
Common Questions About the "The Life" Tone
What guitar did Gary Clark Jr. use on "The Life"?
The guitar on "The Life" (released 2012) isn't documented; the Epiphone Casino above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "The Life" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 5.5, Presence 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 "The Life" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Life" 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 "The Life" by Gary Clark Jr. are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.