How to Dial In "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" by Huey Lewis and the News - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "It Hit Me Like a Hammer"
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 Hard at Play (1991). Hard at Play is the sixth album by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News. 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 Hard at Play, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" Tone
What guitar did Huey Lewis and the News use on "It Hit Me Like a Hammer"?
The guitar on "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" (released 1991) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, 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 "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" 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 "It Hit Me Like a Hammer" by Huey Lewis and the News are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.