How to Dial In "What a Shame About Me" by Steely Dan - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "What a Shame About Me"
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 Two Against Nature (2000). Two Against Nature is the eighth studio album by American rock band Steely Dan. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for Steely Dan's other songs from Two Against Nature, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the middle+bridge pickups together. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "What a Shame About Me" Tone
What guitar did Steely Dan use on "What a Shame About Me"?
The guitar on "What a Shame About Me" (released 2000) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: middle + bridge (position 4) on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "What a Shame About Me" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, 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 "What a Shame About Me" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "What a Shame About Me" 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 "What a Shame About Me" by Steely Dan are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.