How to Dial In "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick"
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.
Released as a 1978 single. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Player Jaguar through a Marshall JCM800 2203, a driven garage-punk pairing, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" Tone
What guitar did Ian Dury and the Blockheads use on "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick"?
The guitar on "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" (released 1978) isn't documented; the Fender Player Jaguar above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 6.5. 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 "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" 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 "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.