Graffiti Bridge album cover - Prince
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "The Question of U" by Prince - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "The Question of U"

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.

Gain6
Bass5.5
Mid6
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.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume10
Recording notes

From Graffiti Bridge (1990). Graffiti Bridge is the twelfth studio album by American recording artist Prince and the soundtrack to the 1990 film of the same name, released on August 20, 1990 by Paisley Park Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster (AVRI Reissue) through a Mesa Boogie Mark IIB, the rig we use for Prince's other songs from Graffiti Bridge, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "The Question of U" Tone

  1. What guitar did Prince use on "The Question of U"?

    The guitar on "The Question of U" (released 1990) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster (AVRI Reissue) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "The Question of U" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, 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 "The Question of U" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Question of U" 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 "The Question of U" by Prince are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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