How to Dial In "Heaven Is a Truck" by Pavement - Guitar Tone Settings
What Pavement Actually Used on "Heaven Is a Truck"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Fender Silverface Twin Reverb. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994). A loose, off-kilter indie-rock song with a rough, jangly guitar. Guitar World's Stephen Malkmus interview has him playing a Gibson SG during the Crooked Rain era and a vintage silverface Twin Reverb in the early Pavement years. That period setup is dialled in here, though nothing ties it to this song alone: a Gibson SG Standard into a Fender Silverface Twin Reverb. Set a light-to-medium crunch on the bridge pickup and dig in harder for the louder sections. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "Heaven Is a Truck" Tone
What guitar did Pavement use on "Heaven Is a Truck"?
Pavement tracked "Heaven Is a Truck" on a Gibson SG Standard (released 1994). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Heaven Is a Truck" need?
On Fender Silverface Twin Reverb: Gain 4.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, 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 "Heaven Is a Truck" without a Fender Silverface Twin Reverb?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Heaven Is a Truck" 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 "Heaven Is a Truck" by Pavement are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.