How to Dial In "Once There Was a Time" by Ten Years After - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Once There Was a Time"
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 A Space in Time (1971). A Space in Time is the sixth studio album by the British blues rock band Ten Years After, released in 1971. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson ES-335 through a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue, the rig we use for Ten Years After's other songs from A Space in Time, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "Once There Was a Time" Tone
What guitar did Ten Years After use on "Once There Was a Time"?
The guitar on "Once There Was a Time" (released 1971) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-335 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Once There Was a Time" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, 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 "Once There Was a Time" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Once There Was a Time" 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 "Once There Was a Time" by Ten Years After are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.