How to Dial In "The Boy from Seattle" by Steve Vai - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Boy from Seattle"
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 Alien Love Secrets (1995). Alien Love Secrets is an EP by guitarist Steve Vai, released on March 21, 1995, through Relativity Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an Ibanez JEM7V through a Bogner Ecstasy 101B, the rig we use for Steve Vai's other songs from Alien Love Secrets, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in D standard (D G C F A D), a whole step below standard.
Common Questions About the "The Boy from Seattle" Tone
What guitar did Steve Vai use on "The Boy from Seattle"?
The guitar on "The Boy from Seattle" (released 1995) isn't documented; the Ibanez JEM7V above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in D Standard (D G C F A D), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "The Boy from Seattle" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 Boy from Seattle" 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 Boy from Seattle" 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 Boy from Seattle" by Steve Vai are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.