Hotline album cover - The J. Geils Band
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Believe in Me" by The J. Geils Band - Guitar Tone Settings

The J. Geils Band·1975·Hotline
The rig

Gear for "Believe in Me"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain4
Bass4.5
Mid6
Treble7
Presence6
Volume6

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume9
Recording notes

From Hotline (1975). Hotline is the sixth studio album by American rock band The J. Geils Band. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue (Custom Shop) through a Fender '65 Super Reverb Reissue, the nearest rig we use for The J. Geils Band's other songs, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Believe in Me" Tone

  1. What guitar did The J. Geils Band use on "Believe in Me"?

    The guitar on "Believe in Me" (released 1975) isn't documented; the Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue (Custom Shop) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Believe in Me" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 4.5, Mid 6, 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.

  3. Can I play "Believe in Me" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Believe in Me" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Believe in Me" by The J. Geils Band are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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