Commit This to Memory album cover - Motion City Soundtrack
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Hold Me Down" by Motion City Soundtrack - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Hold Me Down"

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.

Gain6
Bass5
Mid6
Treble7
Presence6
Volume6.5

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

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume9
Recording notes

From Commit This to Memory (2005). Commit This to Memory is the second studio album by American rock band Motion City Soundtrack. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Player II Jazzmaster through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV, the rig we use for Motion City Soundtrack's other songs from Commit This to Memory, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Hold Me Down" Tone

  1. What guitar did Motion City Soundtrack use on "Hold Me Down"?

    The guitar on "Hold Me Down" (released 2005) isn't documented; the Fender Player II Jazzmaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Hold Me Down" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, 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.

  3. Can I play "Hold Me Down" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Hold Me Down" 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 "Hold Me Down" by Motion City Soundtrack are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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