How to Dial In "When You Walk in the Room" by The Searchers - Guitar Tone Settings
What The Searchers Actually Used on "When You Walk in the Room"
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 are the numbers on the record. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Jackie DeShannon wrote it and released it first, in November 1963. The Searchers' cover came out on Pye on 11 September 1964 with "I'll Be Missing You" on the B-side; it reached number 3 in the UK and number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was bassist Frank Allen's first single with the band, and Mike Pender sang lead. On the band's earlier hits the jangling "12-string" sound was really two 6-string guitars, but this record has John McNally playing a real 12-string Rickenbacker. The band's blend of close harmonies and 12-string jangle was a key influence on the Byrds. No source names the amp. Play the riff on the bridge pickup through a clean, bright amp with the treble up, and let the open strings ring together. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "When You Walk in the Room" Tone
What guitar did The Searchers use on "When You Walk in the Room"?
The Searchers tracked "When You Walk in the Room" on a Rickenbacker 360/12 (released 1964). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "When You Walk in the Room" need?
On the original amp: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, 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 "When You Walk in the Room" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "When You Walk in the Room" 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 "When You Walk in the Room" by The Searchers are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.