How to Dial In "Boss Hoss" by The Sonics - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Boss Hoss"
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 Here Are the Sonics (1965). Here Are the Sonics is the debut album by American garage rock band the Sonics, released in March 1965. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an Epiphone Riviera through a Fender '57 Custom Deluxe, the rig we use for The Sonics' other songs from Here Are the Sonics, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Boss Hoss" Tone
What guitar did The Sonics use on "Boss Hoss"?
The guitar on "Boss Hoss" (released 1965) isn't documented; the Epiphone Riviera (E360TD) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Boss Hoss" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5, Mid 6.5, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 9. 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 "Boss Hoss" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Boss Hoss" 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 "Boss Hoss" by The Sonics are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.