How to Dial In "Sixteen Blue" by The Replacements - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Sixteen Blue"
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 Let It Be (1984). A tender, jangly, mid-tempo song with a loose, lightly overdriven guitar. No source documents the guitar or amp on this track, so a Gibson Les Paul Junior into a Marshall JCM800 2203 stands in. Keep the amp clean, just on the edge of breakup, and play the single pickup. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "Sixteen Blue" Tone
What guitar did The Replacements use on "Sixteen Blue"?
The guitar on "Sixteen Blue" (released 1984) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Junior above gets the sound. Pickup selector: single pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Sixteen Blue" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7.5. 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 "Sixteen Blue" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sixteen Blue" 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 "Sixteen Blue" by The Replacements are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.