How to Dial In "How to Skin a Cat" by Hüsker Dü - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "How to Skin a Cat"
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 New Day Rising (1985). New Day Rising is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Hüsker Dü, released on January 14, 1985 by SST Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an Ibanez DTT700 Destroyer through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Hüsker Dü's other songs from New Day Rising, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "How to Skin a Cat" Tone
What guitar did Hüsker Dü use on "How to Skin a Cat"?
The guitar on "How to Skin a Cat" (released 1985) isn't documented; the Ibanez DTT700 Destroyer above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "How to Skin a Cat" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 5, 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 "How to Skin a Cat" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "How to Skin a Cat" 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 "How to Skin a Cat" by Hüsker Dü are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.