How to Dial In "Stella Blue" by Grateful Dead - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Stella Blue"
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.
A ballad released as the fourth track on Wake of the Flood on 15 October 1973. Robert Hunter wrote the lyrics at the Chelsea Hotel in 1970, and Jerry Garcia told Guitar Player he wrote the music on an acoustic guitar early one morning in Germany, calling it a mood piece. Garcia's electric guitars were changing around then: his Alembic-modified Stratocaster was being replaced on stage by Wolf from September 1973, so no source says which one is on the album. The rig is a suggestion. Keep it clean and warm on the neck pickup, roll the tone down a little, and play the lead lines slowly and vocally. No transcription could be checked, so no tuning is given.
Common Questions About the "Stella Blue" Tone
What guitar did Grateful Dead use on "Stella Blue"?
The guitar on "Stella Blue" (released 1973) isn't documented; the Fender Custom Shop 1959 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Stella Blue" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5, Volume 5.5. 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 "Stella Blue" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Stella Blue" 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 "Stella Blue" by Grateful Dead are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.