How to Dial In "I Got a Line on You" by Spirit - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "I Got a Line on You"
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.
Written and played by Randy California at seventeen, cut for The Family That Plays Together (Lou Adler producing) during 1968 sessions. Be honest about what is and is not known: the one piece of gear reliably tied to California through Spirit's first four albums is a Jordan Boss Tone, a jack-mounted silicon fuzz plug he taped to the guitar body — that bright, gated, singing sustain is the character of this riff. The specific guitar and amp on this take are undocumented; period photographs put Stratocasters in his hands, a Danelectro/Silvertone with lipstick pickups is the other credible candidate, and a Strat is listed here as the closest defensible stand-in rather than a confirmed fact. The amp is left null for the same reason — nothing beyond forum hearsay names it. Standard tuning; the riff is a bright bridge-position single-coil hit hard, and the solo is manually double-tracked, so stacking two takes gets you closer than any chorus pedal will.
Common Questions About the "I Got a Line on You" Tone
What guitar did Spirit use on "I Got a Line on You"?
Spirit tracked "I Got a Line on You" on a Stratocaster (released 1968). The Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "I Got a Line on You" need?
On the original amp: Gain 6, Bass 4.5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 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 "I Got a Line on You" 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 "I Got a Line on You" 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 "I Got a Line on You"?
The original signal chain for "I Got a Line on You" runs through Jordan Boss Tone. 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 "I Got a Line on You" by Spirit are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.