How to Dial In "What She Said" by The Smiths - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "What She Said"
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 Meat Is Murder (1985). Meat Is Murder is the second studio album by the English rock band the Smiths, released on 11 February 1985 by Rough Trade Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster (AVRI Reissue) through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for The Smiths' other songs from Meat Is Murder, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "What She Said" Tone
What guitar did The Smiths use on "What She Said"?
The guitar on "What She Said" (released 1985) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster (AVRI Reissue) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "What She Said" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, 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 "What She Said" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "What She Said" 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 "What She Said" by The Smiths are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.