How to Dial In "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Kiss Me"
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 numbers are for a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Standard tuning. Matt Slocum's electric part is a high, clean, chiming counter-melody sitting above the acoustic strumming rather than a chord part — it plays the hook, and it needs to be bright enough to cut without being brittle. Set the amp clean with the treble up, add light chorus and a short reverb, and use the neck pickup with the tone near full. There is no distortion anywhere in this song. Recorded 1997; the single became inescapable in 1999 through film use and has held enormous streaming numbers since. Play the figure with fingers or a soft pick and let the notes ring into each other; the sound is closer to a 12-string jangle than to a lead line, and hard picking makes it sound anxious rather than dreamy.
Common Questions About the "Kiss Me" Tone
What guitar did Sixpence None the Richer use on "Kiss Me"?
Sixpence None the Richer tracked "Kiss Me" on a Stratocaster (released 1997). The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Kiss Me" need?
On Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue: Gain 2, Bass 4.5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 5.5. 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 "Kiss Me" without a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Kiss Me" 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.
What pedals are on "Kiss Me"?
The original signal chain for "Kiss Me" runs through Boss CE-2 Chorus. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.