How to Dial In "Loser" by Tame Impala - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Loser"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
- GuitarRickenbacker 330Suggested
- AmpVox AC30 C2Suggested
- EffectReverbThe unit 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 Deadbeat (2025). A hazy, reverb-soaked, guitar-led groove under a falsetto vocal. NPR's review of Tame Impala's 2025 Tiny Desk set calls Loser pretty much all guitar, with three guitarists on stage but no instruments named, while Mixdown and PMT describe Kevin Parker's main guitar as a Rickenbacker 335 Jetglo and his live rig as centred on a Vox AC30. So a Rickenbacker 330 into a Vox AC30 C2 stands in. Set a light-to-medium crunch on the bridge pickup and dig in harder for the louder sections. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Loser" Tone
What guitar did Tame Impala use on "Loser"?
The guitar on "Loser" (released 2025) isn't documented; the Rickenbacker 330 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Loser" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 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 "Loser" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Loser" 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 effects are on "Loser"?
The recording has reverb on it. No source names the unit behind it, so this page doesn't guess one. ToneMirror maps each effect onto your rig - a pedal you own, your amp's own controls, or a block on a modeler - and says plainly when your rig can't make one.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Loser" by Tame Impala are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.