How to Dial In "Paying Dues" by Richie Kotzen - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Paying Dues"
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 Peace Sign (2009). Peace Sign is the seventeenth studio album by guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Marshall JCM800 2203, a driven blues-rock pairing, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Paying Dues" Tone
What guitar did Richie Kotzen use on "Paying Dues"?
The guitar on "Paying Dues" (released 2009) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II 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 "Paying Dues" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5, Volume 6. 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 "Paying Dues" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Paying Dues" 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 "Paying Dues" by Richie Kotzen are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.