Port of Morrow album cover - The Shins
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Bait and Switch" by The Shins - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Bait and Switch"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain4
Bass5
Mid5.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume6

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume8
Recording notes

From Port of Morrow (2012). Port of Morrow is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Shins, released on March 19, 2012 by Aural Apothecary and Columbia Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Telecaster through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for The Shins' other songs from Port of Morrow, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Bait and Switch" Tone

  1. What guitar did The Shins use on "Bait and Switch"?

    The guitar on "Bait and Switch" (released 2012) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Bait and Switch" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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.

  3. Can I play "Bait and Switch" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Bait and Switch" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Bait and Switch" by The Shins are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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