How to Dial In "Hang On to Your Life" by The Guess Who - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Hang On to Your Life"
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 Share the Land (1970). Share the Land is the seventh studio album by Canadian rock band the Guess Who, released in October 1970 by RCA Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for The Guess Who's other songs from Share the Land, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Hang On to Your Life" Tone
What guitar did The Guess Who use on "Hang On to Your Life"?
The guitar on "Hang On to Your Life" (released 1970) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Hang On to Your Life" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, 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 "Hang On to Your Life" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Hang On to Your Life" 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 "Hang On to Your Life" by The Guess Who are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.