How to Dial In "Plainsong" by The Cure - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Plainsong"
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 Disintegration (1989). A slow, cavernous opener where chiming guitar sits in a wash of keyboards. Secondary write-ups tie Vox AC30 and Orange AD30 amps to the Disintegration and Wish era, with Robert Smith's Fender Jazzmaster and Fender Bass VI as his main instruments. No source documents the guitar or amp on this track, so a Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster 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 "Plainsong" Tone
What guitar did The Cure use on "Plainsong"?
The guitar on "Plainsong" (released 1989) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Plainsong" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2.5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, 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.
Can I play "Plainsong" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Plainsong" 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 "Plainsong" by The Cure are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.