How to Dial In "Bad Is Bad" by Huey Lewis and the News - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Bad Is Bad"
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 Sports (1983). Sports is the third studio album by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released on September 15, 1983 by Chrysalis Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Huey Lewis and the News' other songs from Sports, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Bad Is Bad" Tone
What guitar did Huey Lewis and the News use on "Bad Is Bad"?
The guitar on "Bad Is Bad" (released 1983) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Bad Is Bad" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 "Bad Is Bad" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Bad Is Bad" 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 "Bad Is Bad" by Huey Lewis and the News are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.