How to Dial In "What's It Gonna Be" by Ratt - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "What's It Gonna Be"
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 Reach for the Sky (1988). Reach for the Sky is the fourth studio album by American glam metal band Ratt, released in 1988 by Atlantic Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH HT through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Ratt's other songs from Reach for the Sky, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in E♭ standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), a half step below standard.
Common Questions About the "What's It Gonna Be" Tone
What guitar did Ratt use on "What's It Gonna Be"?
The guitar on "What's It Gonna Be" (released 1988) isn't documented; the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH HT above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "What's It Gonna Be" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, 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.
Can I play "What's It Gonna Be" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "What's It Gonna Be" 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 "What's It Gonna Be" by Ratt are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.