How to Dial In "What Do You Want Me to Say?" by The Dismemberment Plan - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "What Do You Want Me to Say?"
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 Emergency & I (1999). Emergency & I is the third studio album by American indie rock band the Dismemberment Plan, released in 1999 by DeSoto Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Standard Stratocaster through a Fender Deluxe Reverb, the rig we use for The Dismemberment Plan's other songs from Emergency & I, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "What Do You Want Me to Say?" Tone
What guitar did The Dismemberment Plan use on "What Do You Want Me to Say?"?
The guitar on "What Do You Want Me to Say?" (released 1999) isn't documented; the Fender Standard 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 "What Do You Want Me to Say?" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 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 "What Do You Want Me to Say?" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "What Do You Want Me to Say?" 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 "What Do You Want Me to Say?" by The Dismemberment Plan are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.