How to Dial In "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel - Guitar Tone Settings
What Simon & Garfunkel Actually Used on "The Boxer"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These are the numbers on the record. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
This entry is Paul Simon's fingerpicked Martin D-18 — the intro and verse figure, in the key of C, standard tuning, no capo, with a descending bass line walked under held C/Em-B/Am/G/F shapes. Session man Fred Carter Jr. layered a baby Martin 000-18 in open G (fifth string retuned), a Telecaster, a twelve-string and a Dobro beneath it, and Curly Chalker's pedal steel doubles a piccolo trumpet on the 'lie-la-lie' melody — all overdubs, not the part a player is trying to recreate. Acoustic only: no amp, no effects, and the picking-hand roll is what makes it sound like more than one guitar.
Common Questions About the "The Boxer" Tone
What guitar did Simon & Garfunkel use on "The Boxer"?
Simon & Garfunkel tracked "The Boxer" on a Martin D-18 (released 1969). Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "The Boxer" need?
On the original amp: Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6. 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 "The Boxer" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Boxer" 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 "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.