How to Dial In "When the Music's Over" by The Doors - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "When the Music's Over"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for a Twin Reverb. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Standard tuning. Recorded 1967 at Sunset Sound. Krieger's rig was as plain as it sounds — an SG into a blackface Twin Reverb, with an early Maestro Fuzz-Tone for the solo — and he tracked standing directly in front of the amp so the guitar would feed back on cue. Two details matter more than the settings. He plays fingerstyle, almost never with a pick, which is why the attack is soft and slightly uneven and why a plectrum version of these lines always sounds too pointed. And the song has two different solos playing at once, one panned left and one right: Krieger cut four or five passes intending to choose between them, and engineer Bruce Botnick played two back simultaneously by mistake. Everyone preferred it. Keep the amp clean and let the fuzz do the work.
Common Questions About the "When the Music's Over" Tone
What guitar did The Doors use on "When the Music's Over"?
The Doors tracked "When the Music's Over" on a Gibson SG Standard (released 1967). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "When the Music's Over" need?
On a Twin Reverb: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, 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 "When the Music's Over" without a Twin Reverb?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "When the Music's Over" 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.
What pedals are on "When the Music's Over"?
The original signal chain for "When the Music's Over" runs through Maestro Fuzz-Tone FZ-1. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "When the Music's Over" by The Doors are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.