How to Dial In "Drunken Butterfly" by Sonic Youth - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Drunken Butterfly"
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 Dirty (1992). Noisy, jangling alt-rock with clangy, dissonant guitars and a loose, snarling feel. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster through a Marshall JCM800 2203 stands in. Use the bridge pickup and set the amp for a classic hard-rock crunch. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Drunken Butterfly" Tone
What guitar did Sonic Youth use on "Drunken Butterfly"?
The guitar on "Drunken Butterfly" (released 1992) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Drunken Butterfly" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 7.5. 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 "Drunken Butterfly" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Drunken Butterfly" 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 "Drunken Butterfly" by Sonic Youth are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.