How to Dial In "Goodbye to Love" by The Carpenters - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Goodbye to Love"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
- GuitarGibson ES-335Suggested
- AmpFender Deluxe Reverb (Blackface)Suggested
- EffectFuzzThe unit isn't documented · On the guitar solo
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 Song for You (1972). A Song for You is the fourth studio album by the American music duo the Carpenters, released on June 13, 1972. The song's Wikipedia article says the Carpenters called in guest guitarist Tony Peluso to play the fuzz guitar solo, which he has described as one of the first fuzz solos on a power ballad. It does not name his guitar or amp, so a Gibson ES-335 through a Fender Deluxe Reverb, a warm, lightly driven pop-rock pairing, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Goodbye to Love" Tone
What guitar did The Carpenters use on "Goodbye to Love"?
The guitar on "Goodbye to Love" (released 1972) isn't documented; the Gibson ES-335 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Goodbye to Love" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 4.5, Volume 5.5. 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 "Goodbye to Love" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Goodbye to Love" 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 "Goodbye to Love"?
The recording has fuzz 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 "Goodbye to Love" by The Carpenters are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.