How to Dial In "Mary of the 4th Form" by The Boomtown Rats - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Mary of the 4th Form"
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 The Boomtown Rats (1977). The Boomtown Rats is the debut album by Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats, released in September 1977. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Player Jaguar through a Marshall JCM800 2203, a driven garage-punk pairing, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Mary of the 4th Form" Tone
What guitar did The Boomtown Rats use on "Mary of the 4th Form"?
The guitar on "Mary of the 4th Form" (released 1977) isn't documented; the Fender Player Jaguar above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Mary of the 4th Form" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, Volume 6.5. 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 "Mary of the 4th Form" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Mary of the 4th Form" 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 "Mary of the 4th Form" by The Boomtown Rats are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.