Valentine album cover - Snail Mail
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Forever (Sailing)" by Snail Mail - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Forever (Sailing)"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain4
Bass5
Mid5.5
Treble6.5
Presence5.5
Volume6.5

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume10
Recording notes

A track on Valentine, Lindsey Jordan's second album as Snail Mail, released in November 2021 on Matador and produced by Brad Cook. The guitar part is bright and melodic, with chiming chords and a lead line that follows the vocal. No source available here confirms the exact guitar, amp and pedal on this recording, so a Jaguar through a Hot Rod DeVille with a reverb pedal stands in. Use the bridge pickup and a clean tone with a little edge.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Forever (Sailing)" Tone

  1. What guitar did Snail Mail use on "Forever (Sailing)"?

    The guitar on "Forever (Sailing)" (released 2021) isn't documented; the Fender Player Jaguar above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Forever (Sailing)" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 6.5. 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.

  3. Can I play "Forever (Sailing)" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Forever (Sailing)" 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.

  4. What pedals are on "Forever (Sailing)"?

    Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.

Related tones

Tone references for "Forever (Sailing)" by Snail Mail are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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