How to Dial In "Breaking Down the Door" by Santana - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Breaking Down the Door"
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 Africa Speaks (2019). Africa Speaks is the twenty-fifth studio album by American rock band Santana, released on June 7, 2019, by Concord Records and Suretone Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a PRS Custom 24 through a Mesa Boogie Mark I Reissue, the nearest rig we use for Santana's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the neck pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Breaking Down the Door" Tone
What guitar did Santana use on "Breaking Down the Door"?
The guitar on "Breaking Down the Door" (released 2019) isn't documented; the PRS Custom 24 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Breaking Down the Door" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6, 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 "Breaking Down the Door" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Breaking Down the Door" 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 "Breaking Down the Door" by Santana are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.