How to Dial In "Better Days Ahead" by Pat Metheny Group - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Better Days Ahead"
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 Letter from Home (1989). Letter from Home is the sixth studio album by the Pat Metheny Group, released on 29 June 1989 by Geffen Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an Ibanez PM200 Pat Metheny through a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus, the rig we use for Pat Metheny Group's other songs from Letter from Home, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck pickup.
Common Questions About the "Better Days Ahead" Tone
What guitar did Pat Metheny Group use on "Better Days Ahead"?
The guitar on "Better Days Ahead" (released 1989) isn't documented; the Ibanez PM200 Pat Metheny above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Better Days Ahead" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 5, Presence 4.5, 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 "Better Days Ahead" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Better Days Ahead" 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 "Better Days Ahead" by Pat Metheny Group are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.