How to Dial In "City Girls" by J.J. Cale - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "City Girls"
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 Grasshopper (1982). Grasshopper is the seventh studio album by J. J. Cale, released in March 1982. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Standard Stratocaster through a Fender Deluxe Reverb (Blackface), the nearest rig we use for J.J. Cale's other songs, stands in. Set the amp clean, with the gain barely up and use the neck pickup.
Common Questions About the "City Girls" Tone
What guitar did J.J. Cale use on "City Girls"?
The guitar on "City Girls" (released 1982) isn't documented; the Fender Standard Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "City Girls" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5, 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 "City Girls" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "City Girls" 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 "City Girls" by J.J. Cale are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.