Nothing to Fear album cover - Oingo Boingo
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Whole Day Off" by Oingo Boingo - Guitar Tone Settings

Oingo Boingo·1982·Nothing to Fear
The rig

Gear for "Whole Day Off"

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.

Gain4
Bass5
Mid5
Treble6
Presence5
Volume7

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
Tone6
Volume8
Recording notes

From Nothing to Fear (1982). Nothing to Fear is the second studio album by American new wave band Oingo Boingo, released in 1982 by A&M Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HH FR through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the nearest rig we use for Oingo Boingo's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Whole Day Off" Tone

  1. What guitar did Oingo Boingo use on "Whole Day Off"?

    The guitar on "Whole Day Off" (released 1982) isn't documented; the Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HH FR 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 "Whole Day Off" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 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.

  3. Can I play "Whole Day Off" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Whole Day Off" 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 "Whole Day Off" by Oingo Boingo are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

Adapt to my gear