How to Dial In "Big City" by Merle Haggard - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Big City"
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 Big City (1981). Big City is the thirty-third studio album by American country music artist Merle Haggard backed by the Strangers, released in 1981. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the nearest rig we use for Merle Haggard's other songs, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Big City" Tone
What guitar did Merle Haggard use on "Big City"?
The guitar on "Big City" (released 1981) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Big City" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 6.5. 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 "Big City" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Big City" 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 "Big City" by Merle Haggard are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.