How to Dial In "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" by Ian Dury - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll"
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 Boots and Panties!! (1977). New Boots and Panties!! is the debut studio album by Ian Dury, released in the UK on Stiff Records on 30 September 1977. Engineer Laurie Latham said Chaz Jankel played a Gibson ES-335 through a little Selmer amp with a blown speaker, and that the blown speaker is what the riff goes through; he did not name the Selmer model, so a Selmer Zodiac Twin 30 stands in for it. Push the amp into breakup to approximate that fizz and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" Tone
What guitar did Ian Dury use on "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll"?
The guitar on "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" (released 1977) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-335 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, 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 "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" 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 "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" by Ian Dury are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.