How to Dial In "Life Is Golden" by Suede - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Life Is Golden"
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 Blue Hour (2018). The Blue Hour is the eighth studio album by English alternative rock band Suede. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Telecaster through a Vox AC30 C2, the nearest rig we use for Suede's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in E♭ standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), a half step below standard.
Common Questions About the "Life Is Golden" Tone
What guitar did Suede use on "Life Is Golden"?
The guitar on "Life Is Golden" (released 2018) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Life Is Golden" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 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 "Life Is Golden" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Life Is Golden" 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 "Life Is Golden" by Suede are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.