Hot Buttered Soul album cover - Isaac Hayes
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Walk On By" by Isaac Hayes - Guitar Tone Settings

Isaac Hayes·1969·Hot Buttered Soul
The rig

Gear for "Walk On By"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain4
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6
Presence5.5
Volume5

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone7
Volume8
Recording notes

From Hot Buttered Soul (1969). A twelve-minute soul epic whose long guitar break is thick, fuzzed and sustaining over a slow, hypnotic groove. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue stands in. Use the middle pickup and set the amp to a medium-gain crunch. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Walk On By" Tone

  1. What guitar did Isaac Hayes use on "Walk On By"?

    The guitar on "Walk On By" (released 1969) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: middle pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Walk On By" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, Volume 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.

  3. Can I play "Walk On By" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Walk On By" 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.

  4. What effects are on "Walk On By"?

    The recording has fuzz on it. No source names the unit behind it, so this page doesn't guess one. ToneMirror maps each effect onto your rig - a pedal you own, your amp's own controls, or a block on a modeler - and says plainly when your rig can't make one.

Related tones

Tone references for "Walk On By" by Isaac Hayes are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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