How to Dial In "American Garage" by Pat Metheny - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "American Garage"
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 American Garage (1979). American Garage is the second studio album by the Pat Metheny Group, released in November 1979 by ECM Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson ES-175 through an Acoustic 134 (Vintage), the nearest rig we use for Pat Metheny's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck pickup.
Common Questions About the "American Garage" Tone
What guitar did Pat Metheny use on "American Garage"?
The guitar on "American Garage" (released 1979) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-175 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "American Garage" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 5, Volume 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 "American Garage" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "American Garage" 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 "American Garage" by Pat Metheny are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.