How to Dial In "Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With" by King Crimson - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With"
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 The Power to Believe (2003). The Power to Believe is the thirteenth and final studio album by English progressive rock band King Crimson. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100, the nearest rig we use for King Crimson's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in C standard (C F B♭ E♭ G C), two whole steps below standard.
Common Questions About the "Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With" Tone
What guitar did King Crimson use on "Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With"?
The guitar on "Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With" (released 2003) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in C Standard (C F B♭ E♭ G C), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 "Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With" 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 "Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With" by King Crimson are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.