How to Dial In "This Is a Lie" by The Cure - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "This Is a Lie"
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 Wild Mood Swings (1996). Wild Mood Swings is the tenth studio album by the English rock band the Cure, released on 6 May 1996 by Fiction. 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 Wild Mood Swings, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "This Is a Lie" Tone
What guitar did The Cure use on "This Is a Lie"?
The guitar on "This Is a Lie" (released 1996) 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 "This Is a Lie" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3.5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, 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 "This Is a Lie" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "This Is a Lie" 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 "This Is a Lie" by The Cure are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.