How to Dial In "Baby Blue Eyes" by Stray Cats - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Baby Blue Eyes"
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 numbers are for a Bassman. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Built for Speed (1982). A bouncy rockabilly number with a bright, slap-backed hollow-body tone and quick chord licks. Setzer's rig has been a 1959 Gretsch 6120 through an early-1960s Fender Bassman run to the edge of its clean headroom, with a Roland RE-301 Space Echo for slapback from the early Eighties, per Premier Guitar and Guitar World. The Setzer signature 6120, a '59 Bassman reissue and the RE-301 stand in for them. Set the amp clean with a little edge and use the bridge pickup. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Baby Blue Eyes" Tone
What guitar did Stray Cats use on "Baby Blue Eyes"?
Stray Cats tracked "Baby Blue Eyes" on a Gretsch 6120 (released 1982). The Gretsch G6120T-BSSMK Brian Setzer Signature Nashville Hollow Body '59 Smoke named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Baby Blue Eyes" need?
On a Bassman: Gain 3, Bass 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 "Baby Blue Eyes" without a Bassman?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Baby Blue Eyes" 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 "Baby Blue Eyes"?
The original signal chain for "Baby Blue Eyes" runs through Roland RE-301 Chorus Echo. 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 "Baby Blue Eyes" by Stray Cats are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.