How to Dial In "See My Friends" by The Kinks - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "See My Friends"
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.
Written by Ray Davies and released in July 1965, reaching number 10 on the Record Retailer chart. The song uses a drone played on guitar that evokes the Indian tambura, and it is widely regarded as one of the first raga-rock records, issued four months before the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood". Davies wrote it after hearing a chant from fishermen at the beach while stopping over in Bombay. The sources available here don't name the guitar or amp, so the rig is a suggestion. Pick the open-string drone with a slightly dirty, compressed tone and let it ring through the verses. No transcription could be checked, so no tuning is given.
Common Questions About the "See My Friends" Tone
What guitar did The Kinks use on "See My Friends"?
The guitar on "See My Friends" (released 1965) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster (AVRI Reissue) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "See My Friends" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 6, 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 "See My Friends" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "See My Friends" 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 "See My Friends" by The Kinks are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.