How to Dial In "Modern Day Cowboy" by Tesla - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Modern Day Cowboy"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Marshall JCM800 2203. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Tesla were the least glam of the eighties bands they were marketed alongside — no hairspray image, a blues-rock foundation, and two guitarists in Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch playing genuinely interlocking parts rather than doubled ones. That shows here: the riff is a driving open-position figure with a lot of ring, and the harmonised lead lines need both voices. Standard tuning. Recorded 1986 with Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero. Keep the gain moderate and the mids up — the record is drier and less compressed than its contemporaries, and the appeal is that it sounds like a band playing rather than an assembled wall.
Common Questions About the "Modern Day Cowboy" Tone
What guitar did Tesla use on "Modern Day Cowboy"?
Tesla tracked "Modern Day Cowboy" on a Les Paul (released 1986). The Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Modern Day Cowboy" need?
On Marshall JCM800 2203: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, 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 "Modern Day Cowboy" without a Marshall JCM800 2203?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Modern Day Cowboy" 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 "Modern Day Cowboy" by Tesla are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.