How to Dial In "Sunglasses After Dark" by The Cramps - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Sunglasses After Dark"
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 the Lord Taught Us (1980). Songs the Lord Taught Us is the debut album by the American rock band the Cramps. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature Hollow Body through a Fender '59 Bassman LTD Reissue, the rig we use for The Cramps' other songs from Songs the Lord Taught Us, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Sunglasses After Dark" Tone
What guitar did The Cramps use on "Sunglasses After Dark"?
The guitar on "Sunglasses After Dark" (released 1980) isn't documented; the Gretsch G6120 Eddie Cochran Signature Hollow Body above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Sunglasses After Dark" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, 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 "Sunglasses After Dark" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sunglasses After Dark" 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 "Sunglasses After Dark" by The Cramps are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.