How to Dial In "Placebo Effect" by Siouxsie and the Banshees - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Placebo Effect"
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 Join Hands (1979). Join Hands is the second studio album by the English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released on 7 September 1979 by Polydor Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Vintera '60s Stratocaster through a Vox AC30 C2, the rig we use for Siouxsie and the Banshees' other songs from Join Hands, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Placebo Effect" Tone
What guitar did Siouxsie and the Banshees use on "Placebo Effect"?
The guitar on "Placebo Effect" (released 1979) isn't documented; the Fender Vintera '60s 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 "Placebo Effect" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, 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 "Placebo Effect" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Placebo Effect" 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 "Placebo Effect" by Siouxsie and the Banshees are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.