How to Dial In "Race with the Devil" by Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Race with the Devil"
- GuitarDuo JetModern equivalent: Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select '53 Duo Jet
- EffectSlapback echoThe unit isn't documented
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.
Gene Vincent and Bill Davis wrote it, and it was the first song Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps cut at their first session, on 4 May 1956 at Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville, the same day as "Be-Bop-A-Lula". Producer Ken Nelson had session men waiting in case the band wasn't up to it; once Cliff Gallup played the solos on this song, he knew they wouldn't be needed. Capitol released it as the follow-up to "Be-Bop-A-Lula", with "Gonna Back Up Baby" on the B-side, and it reached number 96 on the Billboard chart and number 28 in the UK. Gallup's guitar was a 1954 Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet, probably fitted with two DeArmond single-coils, with a Bigsby vibrato; in the studio his amp was a Standel 25L15, a 26-watt valve amp with one 15-inch speaker. He played with a flatpick plus fingerpicks on his middle and ring fingers, working the Bigsby with his little finger. The slapback echo either came from units he built from old tape recorder parts or was added by Nelson in the studio; sources disagree. Use the bridge pickup through a clean, full amp with a short slapback, and pick hard on the fast runs. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Race with the Devil" Tone
What guitar did Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps use on "Race with the Devil"?
Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps tracked "Race with the Devil" on a Duo Jet (released 1956). The Gretsch G6128T-53 Vintage Select '53 Duo Jet 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 "Race with the Devil" need?
On the original amp: Gain 3.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. 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 "Race with the Devil" 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 "Race with the Devil" 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.
What effects are on "Race with the Devil"?
The recording has slapback echo on it. No source names the unit behind it, so this page doesn't guess one. ToneMirror maps each effect onto your rig - a pedal you own, your amp's own controls, or a block on a modeler - and says plainly when your rig can't make one.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Race with the Devil" by Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.