How to Dial In "Sea of Love" by The National - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Sea of Love"
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 Trouble Will Find Me (2013). Trouble Will Find Me is the sixth studio album by the American rock band the National, released on May 17, 2013, through 4AD. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster through a Fender Deluxe Reverb (Blackface), the rig we use for The National's other songs from Trouble Will Find Me, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck+bridge pickups together.
Common Questions About the "Sea of Love" Tone
What guitar did The National use on "Sea of Love"?
The guitar on "Sea of Love" (released 2013) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + bridge (position 3 / out-of-phase) on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Sea of Love" 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 "Sea of Love" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sea of Love" 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 "Sea of Love" by The National are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.