How to Dial In "So Hard Done By" by The Tragically Hip - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "So Hard Done By"
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 Day for Night (1994). Day for Night is the fourth studio album by the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Telecaster through a Vox AC30 C2, the rig we use for The Tragically Hip's other songs from Day for Night, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "So Hard Done By" Tone
What guitar did The Tragically Hip use on "So Hard Done By"?
The guitar on "So Hard Done By" (released 1994) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "So Hard Done By" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5.5, 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 "So Hard Done By" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "So Hard Done By" 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 "So Hard Done By" by The Tragically Hip are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.