How to Dial In "Highway Chile" by Jimi Hendrix - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Highway Chile"
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 a Super Lead. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Released in May 1967 as the B-side of "The Wind Cries Mary" and added to the American edition of Are You Experienced that August. Hendrix drives a stuttering, bluesy riff with fuzz-soaked bends and quick double-stops, with Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. His 1967 live and studio setup is documented as a Stratocaster played upside down, a 100-watt Marshall Super Lead and a Fuzz Face, so a modern Stratocaster and Fuzz Face stand in. Use the bridge pickup, push the amp hard and let the fuzz clean up when you roll the guitar volume back. Tuning isn't documented for this recording.
Common Questions About the "Highway Chile" Tone
What guitar did Jimi Hendrix use on "Highway Chile"?
Jimi Hendrix tracked "Highway Chile" on a Stratocaster (released 1967). The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Highway Chile" need?
On a Super Lead: Gain 7.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 8. 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 "Highway Chile" without a Super Lead?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Highway Chile" 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.
What pedals are on "Highway Chile"?
The original signal chain for "Highway Chile" runs through a Fuzz Face. The Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face Mini named above is a later replica. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Highway Chile" by Jimi Hendrix are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.