How to Dial In "Chicago Smokeshop" by Roy Buchanan - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Chicago Smokeshop"
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 When a Guitar Plays the Blues (1985). When a Guitar Plays the Blues is the ninth solo studio album by American musician Roy Buchanan. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster through a Fender '68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb, the nearest rig we use for Roy Buchanan's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Chicago Smokeshop" Tone
What guitar did Roy Buchanan use on "Chicago Smokeshop"?
The guitar on "Chicago Smokeshop" (released 1985) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Chicago Smokeshop" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, 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 "Chicago Smokeshop" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Chicago Smokeshop" 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 "Chicago Smokeshop" by Roy Buchanan are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.