How to Dial In "Pain in My Heart" by Otis Redding - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Pain in My Heart"
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 Pain in My Heart (1964). Pain in My Heart is the debut album of the soul singer-songwriter Otis Redding. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the nearest rig we use for Otis Redding's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "Pain in My Heart" Tone
What guitar did Otis Redding use on "Pain in My Heart"?
The guitar on "Pain in My Heart" (released 1964) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Pain in My Heart" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 6. 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 "Pain in My Heart" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Pain in My Heart" 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 "Pain in My Heart" by Otis Redding are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.