How to Dial In "Cruise On Out" by Rory Gallagher - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Cruise On Out"
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 Photo-Finish (1978). A driving boogie-rock number with a gritty, biting Stratocaster. Rory Gallagher's own site says he varied his live rig over the years, sometimes using Fender, Marshall and Ampeg amps with the AC30 usually staying in the setup, and MusicRadar adds that he used 1950s-vintage Fender Bassman and Twin amps in the early to mid 1970s; nothing ties a rig to Photo-Finish. So a Fender Custom Shop 1961 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic into a Vox AC30 C2 stands in. Set a medium-high crunch on the bridge pickup and keep the low end tight. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "Cruise On Out" Tone
What guitar did Rory Gallagher use on "Cruise On Out"?
The guitar on "Cruise On Out" (released 1978) isn't documented; the Fender Custom Shop 1961 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Cruise On Out" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 8. 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 "Cruise On Out" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Cruise On Out" 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.
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Tone references for "Cruise On Out" by Rory Gallagher are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.