How to Dial In "Sun Don't Let Me Down" by Keith Urban - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Sun Don't Let Me Down"
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 Hot Rod DeVille. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Ripcord (2016). Ripcord is the ninth studio album by Australian country music singer Keith Urban, released on 6 May 2016 by Hit Red and Capitol Nashville. The track features Nile Rodgers on guitar. Rodgers plays a 1960 Stratocaster nicknamed the Hitmaker, so the Fender Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Stratocaster stands in for it, and he has said he plays through a Fender Hot Rod DeVille in general. No source we found gives the amp or the settings for this session, so a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 4x10 stands in and the knob values are approximate. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck pickup.
Common Questions About the "Sun Don't Let Me Down" Tone
What guitar did Keith Urban use on "Sun Don't Let Me Down"?
Keith Urban tracked "Sun Don't Let Me Down" on a Stratocaster (released 2016). The Fender Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Stratocaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Sun Don't Let Me Down" need?
On a Hot Rod DeVille: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, 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 "Sun Don't Let Me Down" without a Hot Rod DeVille?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sun Don't Let Me Down" 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 "Sun Don't Let Me Down" by Keith Urban are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.