How to Dial In "Acting This Way" by Robert Cray - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Acting This Way"
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 Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1988). Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, released in 1988, is American blues musician Robert Cray's follow-up to Strong Persuader. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Super Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for Robert Cray's other songs from Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the middle+bridge pickups together. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Acting This Way" Tone
What guitar did Robert Cray use on "Acting This Way"?
The guitar on "Acting This Way" (released 1988) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: middle + bridge (position 4) on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Acting This Way" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. 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 "Acting This Way" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Acting This Way" 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 "Acting This Way" by Robert Cray are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.