How to Dial In "Friends and Lovers" by Incubus - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Friends and Lovers"
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 If Not Now, When? (2011). If Not Now, When? is the seventh studio album by American rock band Incubus, released on July 12, 2011 and named after the novel by Primo Levi. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a PRS CE 24 through a Mesa Boogie Tremoverb, the rig we use for Incubus' other songs from If Not Now, When?, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Friends and Lovers" Tone
What guitar did Incubus use on "Friends and Lovers"?
The guitar on "Friends and Lovers" (released 2011) isn't documented; the PRS CE 24 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Friends and Lovers" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5.5, Bass 5.5, 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 "Friends and Lovers" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Friends and Lovers" 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 "Friends and Lovers" by Incubus are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.