How to Dial In "By Starlight" by The Smashing Pumpkins - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "By Starlight"
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 Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995). A woozy, hazy closer with fuzzy, slow-moving guitars. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue stands in. Use the neck pickup and set the amp for a classic hard-rock crunch. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "By Starlight" Tone
What guitar did The Smashing Pumpkins use on "By Starlight"?
The guitar on "By Starlight" (released 1995) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "By Starlight" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 5.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 5, Volume 6.5. 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 "By Starlight" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "By Starlight" 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 "By Starlight" by The Smashing Pumpkins are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.