How to Dial In "The Fightin' Side of Me" by Merle Haggard - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Fightin' Side of Me"
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.
Merle Haggard wrote it, and the studio version was recorded on 23 December 1969 with Ken Nelson producing. Capitol released it on 26 January 1970 with "Every Fool Has a Rainbow" on the B-side, as the first single and title track of the album The Fightin' Side of Me, and it became one of the most famous songs of his career. Like "Okie from Muskogee", it takes aim at people "harpin' on the wars we fight" during the Vietnam War, and Toby Keith called it "the original Angry American song". The Strangers' lead guitarist was Roy Nichols, a Telecaster player known for fingerpicking and pedal-steel-like bends, but no source names the guitar, amp or effects on this record. Play the twangy intro and fills on the bridge pickup through a clean, bright amp. No transcription could be checked, so no tuning is given.
Common Questions About the "The Fightin' Side of Me" Tone
What guitar did Merle Haggard use on "The Fightin' Side of Me"?
The guitar on "The Fightin' Side of Me" (released 1970) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "The Fightin' Side of Me" 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 "The Fightin' Side of Me" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Fightin' Side of Me" 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 "The Fightin' Side of Me" by Merle Haggard are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.