Three Imaginary Boys album cover - The Cure
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Object" by The Cure - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Object"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain3.5
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume6.5

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume8.5
Recording notes

From Three Imaginary Boys (1979). Three Imaginary Boys is the debut studio album by the English rock band the Cure, released on 8 May 1979 by Fiction Records, and reached number 44 on the UK Albums Chart. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Vox AC30 C2, the rig we use for The Cure's other songs from Three Imaginary Boys, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Object" Tone

  1. What guitar did The Cure use on "Object"?

    The guitar on "Object" (released 1979) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Object" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 3.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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.

  3. Can I play "Object" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Object" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Object" by The Cure are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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