How to Dial In "Mood Swings" by Mike Stern - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Mood Swings"
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 Upside Downside (1986). Upside Downside is the second studio album by guitarist Mike Stern, released in 1986 through Atlantic Records and reissued on August 21, 2007, through Wounded Bird Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Mike Stern Telecaster through a Fender Silverface Twin Reverb, the rig we use for Mike Stern's other songs from Upside Downside, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the neck pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Mood Swings" Tone
What guitar did Mike Stern use on "Mood Swings"?
The guitar on "Mood Swings" (released 1986) isn't documented; the Fender Mike Stern Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Mood Swings" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5, 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.
Can I play "Mood Swings" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Mood Swings" 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 "Mood Swings" by Mike Stern are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.