How to Dial In "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "What Makes You Beautiful"
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 Up All Night (2011). Up All Night is the debut studio album by English-Irish boy band One Direction, released by Syco Records in November 2011 in Ireland and the United Kingdom, followed by a worldwide release during 2012. The song's Wikipedia article notes that its opening guitar riff has been compared to the one in "Summer Nights" from Grease. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, a bright, clean pop-rock pairing, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "What Makes You Beautiful" Tone
What guitar did One Direction use on "What Makes You Beautiful"?
The guitar on "What Makes You Beautiful" (released 2011) 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 "What Makes You Beautiful" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5, Volume 5.5. 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 "What Makes You Beautiful" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "What Makes You Beautiful" 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 "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.