How to Dial In "Better Half" by The Get Up Kids - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Better Half"
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 Four Minute Mile (1997). Four Minute Mile is the debut studio album by American emo band the Get Up Kids, released on September 30, 1997. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for The Get Up Kids' other songs from Four Minute Mile, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Better Half" Tone
What guitar did The Get Up Kids use on "Better Half"?
The guitar on "Better Half" (released 1997) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Better Half" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 "Better Half" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Better Half" 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 "Better Half" by The Get Up Kids are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.