How to Dial In "Surf's Up Tonight" by Midnight Oil - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Surf's Up Tonight"
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 Breathe (1996). Breathe is the ninth studio album by Australian rock band, Midnight Oil, which was released on 15 October 1996 under the Columbia Records label. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the nearest rig we use for Midnight Oil's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in E♭ standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), a half step below standard.
Common Questions About the "Surf's Up Tonight" Tone
What guitar did Midnight Oil use on "Surf's Up Tonight"?
The guitar on "Surf's Up Tonight" (released 1996) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage '62 Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Surf's Up Tonight" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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 "Surf's Up Tonight" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Surf's Up Tonight" 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 "Surf's Up Tonight" by Midnight Oil are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.