How to Dial In "Ships That Don't Come In" by Joe Diffie - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Ships That Don't Come In"
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 Regular Joe (1992). Regular Joe is the second studio album by the American country singer Joe Diffie, released on 14 January 1992 by Epic Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Custom Shop 1968 Telecaster Heavy Relic through a Fender Bassman 100 (Silverface, Vintage), the nearest rig we use for Joe Diffie's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "Ships That Don't Come In" Tone
What guitar did Joe Diffie use on "Ships That Don't Come In"?
The guitar on "Ships That Don't Come In" (released 1992) isn't documented; the Fender Custom Shop 1968 Telecaster Heavy Relic above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Ships That Don't Come In" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 4, Mid 6, Treble 7.5, Presence 6.5, 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.
Can I play "Ships That Don't Come In" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Ships That Don't Come In" 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 "Ships That Don't Come In" by Joe Diffie are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.