How to Dial In "Who Is It?" by Talking Heads - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Who Is It?"
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 Talking Heads: 77 (1977). Talking Heads: 77 is the debut album by the American rock band Talking Heads, released on September 16, 1977, by Sire Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster (AVRI Reissue) through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for Talking Heads' other songs from Talking Heads: 77, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Who Is It?" Tone
What guitar did Talking Heads use on "Who Is It?"?
The guitar on "Who Is It?" (released 1977) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster (AVRI Reissue) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Who Is It?" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 5.5. 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 "Who Is It?" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Who Is It?" 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 "Who Is It?" by Talking Heads are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.