How to Dial In "How It Is" by Rush - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "How It Is"
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 Vapor Trails (2002). Vapor Trails is the seventeenth studio album by Canadian rock band Rush. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s through a Hughes & Kettner Triamp Mark III, the rig we use for Rush's other songs from Vapor Trails, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "How It Is" Tone
What guitar did Rush use on "How It Is"?
The guitar on "How It Is" (released 2002) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "How It Is" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6.5, 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 "How It Is" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "How It Is" 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 "How It Is" by Rush are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.