How to Dial In "Honey Hush" by Johnny Burnette - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Honey Hush"
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.
Big Joe Turner first recorded it in 1953, and Johnny Burnette's Rock and Roll Trio, with his brother Dorsey Burnette and guitarist Paul Burlison, cut an early cover in 1956. Burlison is sometimes credited as the first guitarist to record a deliberately distorted electric guitar, on this and "Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track)" from the same year. The trio never had a chart hit and broke up in the autumn of 1957, but the Beatles, the Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith all covered their songs, often leaning on Burlison's riffs. No source names the guitar, amp or effects. Play the riff on the bridge pickup with a small amp turned up into a ragged, fuzzy break-up, and hit the strings hard. No transcription could be checked, so no tuning is given.
Common Questions About the "Honey Hush" Tone
What guitar did Johnny Burnette use on "Honey Hush"?
The guitar on "Honey Hush" (released 1956) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster (AVRI Reissue) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Honey Hush" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6, Presence 6, 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 "Honey Hush" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Honey Hush" 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 "Honey Hush" by Johnny Burnette are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.