How to Dial In "Victoria" by The Kinks - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Victoria"
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 Tweed Deluxe. 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. Opens Arthur with a bright, hard-strummed major-key riff that sits between the Kinks' early proto-metal singles and the power pop they influenced a decade later. Dave Davies's tone is a small valve amp driven well past clean — his famous method was slashing the speaker cone of a cheap combo, which is why his distortion is ragged and slightly torn rather than smooth. A tweed-style amp near full volume gets close. Keep the mids and treble up and the gain moderate: the part is played with full open chords and needs to stay legible, and too much saturation turns the strumming into a wash. The energy is in the right hand.
Common Questions About the "Victoria" Tone
What guitar did The Kinks use on "Victoria"?
The Kinks tracked "Victoria" on a Stratocaster (released 1969). The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Victoria" need?
On a Tweed Deluxe: Gain 5.5, Bass 4.5, Mid 7, Treble 7, 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 "Victoria" without a Tweed Deluxe?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Victoria" 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 "Victoria" by The Kinks are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.