How to Dial In "Cold Rain and Snow" by Grateful Dead - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Cold Rain and Snow"
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 The Grateful Dead (1967). An old folk tune the band rewrote for its 1967 debut as a driving minor-key blues-rock groove, with bright, clean guitar and sharp-edged lead lines from Jerry Garcia over Bob Weir's rhythm. Garcia played a Guild Starfire from 1965 to 1967 (Reverb), but no source ties it or an amp to this recording, so a Guild Starfire IV through a Fender Twin Reverb reissue stands in. Set the amp clean with a little edge and use the neck and bridge pickups. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Cold Rain and Snow" Tone
What guitar did Grateful Dead use on "Cold Rain and Snow"?
The guitar on "Cold Rain and Snow" (released 1967) isn't documented; the Guild Starfire IV ST above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Cold Rain and Snow" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, 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 "Cold Rain and Snow" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Cold Rain and Snow" 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 "Cold Rain and Snow" by Grateful Dead are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.