How to Dial In "If You Can't Beat Them" by Queen - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "If You Can't Beat Them"
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 Jazz (1978). Jazz is the seventh studio album by the British rock band Queen. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Brian May Guitars Red Special through a Vox AC30HW2 Hand-Wired, the rig we use for Queen's other songs from Jazz, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "If You Can't Beat Them" Tone
What guitar did Queen use on "If You Can't Beat Them"?
The guitar on "If You Can't Beat Them" (released 1978) isn't documented; the Brian May Guitars Red Special above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "If You Can't Beat Them" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 8. 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 "If You Can't Beat Them" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "If You Can't Beat Them" 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 "If You Can't Beat Them" by Queen are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.