How to Dial In "The Fez" by Steely Dan - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Fez"
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 The Royal Scam (1976). A swaggering, bluesy strut with a biting, slightly overdriven lead. A guitar-soloist credit list gives the solo on The Fez to Walter Becker, but no source names his guitar or amp for the record. So a Gibson ES-335 into a Mesa Boogie Mark I Reissue stands in. Set a light-to-medium crunch on the neck and bridge pickups together and dig in harder for the louder sections. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "The Fez" Tone
What guitar did Steely Dan use on "The Fez"?
The guitar on "The Fez" (released 1976) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-335 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "The Fez" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4.5, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 5, 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 "The Fez" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Fez" 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 "The Fez" by Steely Dan are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.