How to Dial In "Twenty One" by The Cranberries - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Twenty One"
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 No Need to Argue (1994). A jangling alt-rock song with a ringing guitar that opens up in the chorus. A MusicRadar piece on the band quotes Noel Hogan saying he used vintage AC30s and Marshalls, an ES-335 on Zombie and a Les Paul on No Need to Argue, and that the sound everybody heard was an AC30 cranked up with a Tele added; it does not say which guitar is on this song. So a Fender American Professional II Telecaster into a Vox AC30 C2 stands in. Keep the amp clean, just on the edge of breakup, and play the neck pickup. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "Twenty One" Tone
What guitar did The Cranberries use on "Twenty One"?
The guitar on "Twenty One" (released 1994) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Twenty One" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3.5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, Volume 6. 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 "Twenty One" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Twenty One" 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 "Twenty One" by The Cranberries are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.