How to Dial In "If I Can't Have You" by Shawn Mendes - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "If I Can't Have You"
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 Shawn Mendes (2018). Shawn Mendes (alternatively Shawn Mendes: The Album) is the third studio album by Canadian singer Shawn Mendes, released through Island Records on May 25, 2018. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, the nearest rig we use for Shawn Mendes' other songs, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "If I Can't Have You" Tone
What guitar did Shawn Mendes use on "If I Can't Have You"?
The guitar on "If I Can't Have You" (released 2018) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "If I Can't Have You" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 5. 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 "If I Can't Have You" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "If I Can't Have You" 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 "If I Can't Have You" by Shawn Mendes are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.