How to Dial In "Heroine" by Suede - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Heroine"
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 Dog Man Star (1994). A sweeping, cinematic song with big, sustained guitar swells over a driving rhythm. Bernard Butler says his red Gibson ES-355 is on a lot of his recordings from late Suede onward, and Dog Man Star was his last album with the band. No source documents the guitar or amp on this track, so a Gibson ES-355 into a Vox AC30 C2 stands in. Set a light-to-medium crunch on the neck and bridge pickups together and dig in harder for the louder sections. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Heroine" Tone
What guitar did Suede use on "Heroine"?
The guitar on "Heroine" (released 1994) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-355 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Heroine" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, 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 "Heroine" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Heroine" 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 "Heroine" by Suede are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.