Heat in the Street album cover - Pat Travers
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Killer's Instinct" by Pat Travers - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Killer's Instinct"

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.

Gain7
Bass5.5
Mid6.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume7.5

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.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume10
Recording notes

From Heat in the Street (1978). Heat in the Street is a rock album by the Pat Travers Band. It was released in 1978 on Polydor Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Melody Maker through a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue, the rig we use for Pat Travers' other songs from Heat in the Street, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the single pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Killer's Instinct" Tone

  1. What guitar did Pat Travers use on "Killer's Instinct"?

    The guitar on "Killer's Instinct" (released 1978) isn't documented; the Gibson Melody Maker above gets the sound. Pickup selector: single pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Killer's Instinct" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7.5. 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.

  3. Can I play "Killer's Instinct" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Killer's Instinct" 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 "Killer's Instinct" by Pat Travers are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

Adapt to my gear