The Works album cover - Queen
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Keep Passing the Open Windows" by Queen - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Keep Passing the Open Windows"

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.

Gain5.5
Bass5.5
Mid6.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume7

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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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
Tone8.5
Volume10
Recording notes

From The Works (1984). The Works is the eleventh 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 The Works, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Keep Passing the Open Windows" Tone

  1. What guitar did Queen use on "Keep Passing the Open Windows"?

    The guitar on "Keep Passing the Open Windows" (released 1984) 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).

  2. What amp settings does "Keep Passing the Open Windows" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 5.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 "Keep Passing the Open Windows" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Keep Passing the Open Windows" 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 "Keep Passing the Open Windows" by Queen are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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