On the Level album cover - Status Quo
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Little Lady" by Status Quo - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Little Lady"

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.

Gain6
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume7.5

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
Tone7
Volume9
Recording notes

From On the Level (1975). A driving boogie-rock track with a crunchy, chugging rhythm guitar. Guitar World and Anderton's say Francis Rossi's best-known guitar is a 1957 Telecaster he refinished green and Rick Parfitt's a white 1960 Telecaster, with Parfitt on an SG for Piledriver, and that both used a mix of Vox AC30 and Marshall JCM800 amps in sources that don't date them. So a Fender American Professional II Telecaster into a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue stands in. Set a medium-high crunch on the bridge pickup and keep the low end tight. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Little Lady" Tone

  1. What guitar did Status Quo use on "Little Lady"?

    The guitar on "Little Lady" (released 1975) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Telecaster 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 "Little Lady" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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.

  3. Can I play "Little Lady" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Little Lady" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Little Lady" by Status Quo are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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