How to Dial In "The Drowning Man" by The Cure - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Drowning Man"
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 Faith (1981). Faith is the third studio album by the English rock band the Cure, released on 14 April 1981 by Fiction Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus, the rig we use for The Cure's other songs from Faith, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "The Drowning Man" Tone
What guitar did The Cure use on "The Drowning Man"?
The guitar on "The Drowning Man" (released 1981) 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).
What amp settings does "The Drowning Man" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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 "The Drowning Man" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Drowning Man" 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 "The Drowning Man" by The Cure are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.