How to Dial In "The Working Hour" by Tears for Fears - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Working Hour"
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 Songs from the Big Chair (1985). Songs from the Big Chair is the second studio album by the English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released in the UK on 1 March 1985 by Phonogram Records and Mercury Records, followed by a US release on 11 March 1985. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for Tears for Fears' other songs from Songs from the Big Chair, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "The Working Hour" Tone
What guitar did Tears for Fears use on "The Working Hour"?
The guitar on "The Working Hour" (released 1985) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "The Working Hour" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, 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 "The Working Hour" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Working Hour" 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 "The Working Hour" by Tears for Fears are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.