How to Dial In "Hit the Highway" by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Hit the Highway"
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 A Hard Road (1967). A Hard Road is the third album (and second studio album) recorded by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, released in 1967. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Kirk Hammett Greeny Les Paul Standard through a Marshall JTM45 2245 Reissue, the nearest rig to the one documented for John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the neck pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Hit the Highway" Tone
What guitar did John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers use on "Hit the Highway"?
The guitar on "Hit the Highway" (released 1967) isn't documented; the Gibson Kirk Hammett Greeny Les Paul Standard (Signature) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Hit the Highway" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, 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 "Hit the Highway" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Hit the Highway" 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 "Hit the Highway" by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.