How to Dial In "AKA... What a Life!" by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "AKA... What a Life!"
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 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (2011). An upbeat rock single with a bright, chiming electric guitar riding a dance-leaning groove. Gear guides tie Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds-era playing to a Gibson ES-355 and a Vox AC30, but none dates a guitar or amp to this recording. So a Gibson ES-355 through a Vox AC30 C2 stands in. Set the amp at a light crunch and use the neck and bridge pickups. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "AKA... What a Life!" Tone
What guitar did Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds use on "AKA... What a Life!"?
The guitar on "AKA... What a Life!" (released 2011) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-355 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the guitar.
What amp settings does "AKA... What a Life!" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5.5, 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 "AKA... What a Life!" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "AKA... What a Life!" 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 "AKA... What a Life!" by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.