How to Dial In "Baby What You Want Me to Do" by Jimmy Reed - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Baby What You Want Me to Do"
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.
Jimmy Reed recorded it in Chicago on 7 August 1959, and Vee-Jay released it that November with "Caress Me, Baby" on the B-side. He took the sole writing credit, though blues historian Gerard Herzhaft says that, like most of Reed's songs, it was written by his wife, Mary "Mama" Reed, who sings harmony on it. It is a mid-tempo shuffle in E in Reed's lazy, loping style of vocals, guitar and harmonica, with chord substitutions in bars nine and ten, and Eddie Taylor and Lefty Bates play guitars alongside him, with Marcus Johnson on bass and Earl Phillips on drums. It is on his album Found Love (1960). No source names the guitar, amp or effects. Play the shuffle figure on the low strings with the neck pickup and a clean, warm amp, and keep it relaxed. No transcription could be checked, so no tuning is given.
Common Questions About the "Baby What You Want Me to Do" Tone
What guitar did Jimmy Reed use on "Baby What You Want Me to Do"?
The guitar on "Baby What You Want Me to Do" (released 1959) isn't documented; the Kay Thin Twin K-161 Jimmy Reed above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Baby What You Want Me to Do" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 5.5, Presence 5, Volume 6. 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 "Baby What You Want Me to Do" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Baby What You Want Me to Do" 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.
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Tone references for "Baby What You Want Me to Do" by Jimmy Reed are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.