How to Dial In "Total Control" by The Motels - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Total Control"
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 Motels (1979). Motels is the first studio album by American new wave band the Motels, recorded in the spring of 1979 and released in the fall. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Standard Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the nearest rig we use for The Motels' other songs, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the neck pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Total Control" Tone
What guitar did The Motels use on "Total Control"?
The guitar on "Total Control" (released 1979) isn't documented; the Fender Standard Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Total Control" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 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 "Total Control" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Total Control" 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 "Total Control" by The Motels are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.