Kiwanuka album cover - Michael Kiwanuka
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Final Days" by Michael Kiwanuka - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Final Days"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain3.5
Bass5
Mid6.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume6

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume9
Recording notes

From Kiwanuka (2019). Kiwanuka is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka, released on 1 November 2019. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Telecaster through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, a common rig for this kind of sound, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Final Days" Tone

  1. What guitar did Michael Kiwanuka use on "Final Days"?

    The guitar on "Final Days" (released 2019) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Final Days" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 3.5, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6. 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.

  3. Can I play "Final Days" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Final Days" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Final Days" by Michael Kiwanuka are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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