How to Dial In "I Heard Her Call My Name" by The Velvet Underground - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "I Heard Her Call My Name"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These numbers are for an AC30. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Standard tuning. Lou Reed's solos here are deliberately, structurally out of control — the guitar is mixed louder than the vocal and clips the tape, which the engineers objected to and Reed insisted on. This is the sound almost every noise-rock band traces back to, and copying it means accepting that the tone is broken on purpose. Set treble and gain higher than is comfortable, bass low, and let the amp distort into fizz rather than warmth. Reed played in a flattened tuning at times and used a heavily overdriven amp with no pedals. The performance is built on a single repeated chord underneath, so the solo has no harmony to serve and simply attacks; play it with the pick digging in and no vibrato.
Common Questions About the "I Heard Her Call My Name" Tone
What guitar did The Velvet Underground use on "I Heard Her Call My Name"?
The Velvet Underground tracked "I Heard Her Call My Name" on a Jazzmaster (released 1968). The Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "I Heard Her Call My Name" need?
On an AC30: Gain 8, Bass 4, Mid 7, Treble 8, Presence 7, 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 "I Heard Her Call My Name" without an AC30?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I Heard Her Call My Name" 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 "I Heard Her Call My Name" by The Velvet Underground are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.