How to Dial In "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "When a Man Loves a Woman"
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 Time, Love & Tenderness (1991). Time, Love & Tenderness is the seventh studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson ES-335 through a Fender Deluxe Reverb (Blackface), the nearest rig we use for Michael Bolton's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "When a Man Loves a Woman" Tone
What guitar did Michael Bolton use on "When a Man Loves a Woman"?
The guitar on "When a Man Loves a Woman" (released 1991) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-335 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "When a Man Loves a Woman" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 4.5, Volume 5.5. 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 "When a Man Loves a Woman" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "When a Man Loves a Woman" 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 "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.