How to Dial In "Viet Nam" by Minutemen - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Viet Nam"
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 Double Nickels on the Dime (1984). Double Nickels on the Dime is the third studio album by American punk trio Minutemen, released on the SST Records in July 1984. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Player Telecaster Deluxe through a Fender Silverface Twin Reverb, the rig we use for Minutemen's other songs from Double Nickels on the Dime, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Viet Nam" Tone
What guitar did Minutemen use on "Viet Nam"?
The guitar on "Viet Nam" (released 1984) isn't documented; the Fender Player Telecaster Deluxe above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Viet Nam" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, 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 "Viet Nam" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Viet Nam" 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 "Viet Nam" by Minutemen are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.