Three Lock Box album cover - Sammy Hagar
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "I Don't Need Love" by Sammy Hagar - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "I Don't Need Love"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain6.5
Bass6
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume7

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume9.5
Recording notes

From Three Lock Box (1982). Three Lock Box is the seventh studio album by the American rock vocalist Sammy Hagar, released on December 6, 1982 by Geffen Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Sammy Hagar's other songs from Three Lock Box, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "I Don't Need Love" Tone

  1. What guitar did Sammy Hagar use on "I Don't Need Love"?

    The guitar on "I Don't Need Love" (released 1982) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "I Don't Need Love" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, 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.

  3. Can I play "I Don't Need Love" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I Don't Need Love" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "I Don't Need Love" by Sammy Hagar are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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