How to Dial In "House We Used to Live In" by The Smithereens - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "House We Used to Live In"
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 Green Thoughts (1988). Green Thoughts is the second studio album by the Smithereens, released March 22, 1988 by Enigma/Capitol Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Rickenbacker 360 through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for The Smithereens' other songs from Green Thoughts, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in E♭ standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), a half step below standard.
Common Questions About the "House We Used to Live In" Tone
What guitar did The Smithereens use on "House We Used to Live In"?
The guitar on "House We Used to Live In" (released 1988) isn't documented; the Rickenbacker 360 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "House We Used to Live In" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 "House We Used to Live In" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "House We Used to Live In" 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.
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Tone references for "House We Used to Live In" by The Smithereens are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.