How to Dial In "Total Bummer" by NOFX - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Total Bummer"
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 Pump Up the Valuum (2000). Pump Up the Valuum is the eighth studio album by the American punk rock band NOFX. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for NOFX's other songs from Pump Up the Valuum, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Total Bummer" Tone
What guitar did NOFX use on "Total Bummer"?
The guitar on "Total Bummer" (released 2000) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Total Bummer" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 7. 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 "Total Bummer" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Total Bummer" 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 "Total Bummer" by NOFX are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.