How to Dial In "After Midnight" by J.J. Cale - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "After Midnight"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for the original amp. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Naturally (1971). A slow, loping shuffle with a quiet, compressed, behind-the-beat lead and almost no gain. J.J. Cale's own liner notes, quoted on jjcale.org, say the rhythm part on After Midnight is a Harmony guitar played acoustically and miked, and the lead was overdubbed on the same Harmony through an old Fender Pro tube amp; Guitar Player's feature on his homemade guitar says it began as a Harmony acoustic rebuilt with extra pickups. The notes give no model number for either. The lead overdub is the part dialled in here: a Harmony Rocket H59 into a Fender '57 Custom Pro-Amp. Keep the amp clean, just on the edge of breakup, and play the neck pickup. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "After Midnight" Tone
What guitar did J.J. Cale use on "After Midnight"?
J.J. Cale tracked "After Midnight" on a Harmony Rocket H59 (released 1971). Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "After Midnight" need?
On the original amp: Gain 2, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 5, Presence 4, 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.
Can I play "After Midnight" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "After Midnight" 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 "After Midnight" by J.J. Cale are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.