Boom album cover - The Sonics
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Shot Down" by The Sonics - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Shot Down"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain7
Bass5
Mid6.5
Treble7
Presence6
Volume9

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume10
Recording notes

From Boom (1966). Boom is the second studio album by the American garage rock band the Sonics, released in February 1966. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an Epiphone Riviera (E360TD) through a Fender '57 Custom Deluxe (Tweed Deluxe), the rig we use for The Sonics' other songs from Boom, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Shot Down" Tone

  1. What guitar did The Sonics use on "Shot Down"?

    The guitar on "Shot Down" (released 1966) isn't documented; the Epiphone Riviera (E360TD) above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Shot Down" 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.

  3. Can I play "Shot Down" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Shot Down" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Shot Down" by The Sonics are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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