How to Dial In "American Girls" by Harry Styles - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "American Girls"
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 Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. (2026). A bright, driving pop-rock song with a crunchy, riff-led electric guitar. A Guitar World interview has Mitch Rowland naming a Goldtop Les Paul as the first guitar he bought for the Harry rehearsals and low-wattage Watkins amps for the tour, which is a touring rig rather than the studio, and no source names the guitars on this track. So a Fender American Professional II Telecaster into a Vox AC30 C2 stands in. Set a light-to-medium crunch on the bridge pickup and dig in harder for the louder sections. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "American Girls" Tone
What guitar did Harry Styles use on "American Girls"?
The guitar on "American Girls" (released 2026) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "American Girls" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, 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 "American Girls" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "American Girls" 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 "American Girls" by Harry Styles are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.