How to Dial In "We Only Come Out at Night" by The Smashing Pumpkins - Guitar Tone Settings
What The Smashing Pumpkins Actually Used on "We Only Come Out at Night"
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 numbers are for a Marshall JCM800 2203. On your amp, they 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). Reverb's guide to the band's gear has the album's main amp sound as a 1984 Marshall JCM800 head, with Billy Corgan's '57 Stratocaster reissues and Marshall JMP-1 preamps alongside it. That is the rig used here, though no source ties it to this particular song. Use the bridge pickup at a medium-high gain and back the guitar volume off a touch for the quieter sections. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "We Only Come Out at Night" Tone
What guitar did The Smashing Pumpkins use on "We Only Come Out at Night"?
The Smashing Pumpkins tracked "We Only Come Out at Night" on a Fender American Vintage '57 Stratocaster (AVRI Reissue) (released 1995). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "We Only Come Out at Night" need?
On Marshall JCM800 2203: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 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 "We Only Come Out at Night" without a Marshall JCM800 2203?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "We Only Come Out at Night" 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 "We Only Come Out at Night" by The Smashing Pumpkins are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.