How to Dial In "Joanna" by Kool & the Gang - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Joanna"
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 In the Heart (1983). In the Heart is the fifteenth studio album by the funk/R&B band Kool & the Gang, released on November 21, 1983. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster through a Fender Silverface Twin Reverb, the nearest rig we use for Kool & the Gang's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the middle+bridge pickups together.
Common Questions About the "Joanna" Tone
What guitar did Kool & the Gang use on "Joanna"?
The guitar on "Joanna" (released 1983) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: middle + bridge (position 4) on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Joanna" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 1.5, Bass 4, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, Presence 5.5, Volume 3.5. 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 "Joanna" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Joanna" 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 "Joanna" by Kool & the Gang are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.