How to Dial In "Maybe Next Time" by Rainbow - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Maybe Next Time"
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 Difficult to Cure (1981). Produced by Roger Glover and recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen and Kingdom Sound Studios on Long Island, it was the first Rainbow album with drummer Bobby Rondinelli and singer Joe Lynn Turner. The album lists it as "Vielleicht das nächste Mal", with "Maybe Next Time" as the English title. Ritchie Blackmore is tied to Fender Stratocasters and Marshall amplifiers, but no source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster through a Marshall Major (200W) - 'The Pig' stands in. Set the amp to a driven crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Maybe Next Time" Tone
What guitar did Rainbow use on "Maybe Next Time"?
The guitar on "Maybe Next Time" (released 1981) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Maybe Next Time" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 7, 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.
Can I play "Maybe Next Time" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Maybe Next Time" 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 "Maybe Next Time" by Rainbow are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.