The Velvet Underground & Nico album cover - The Velvet Underground
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "I'll Be Your Mirror" by The Velvet Underground - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "I'll Be Your Mirror"

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.

Gain2
Bass5
Mid5.5
Treble6
Presence5.5
Volume5

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

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone7
Volume7
Recording notes

From The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967). A tender, slow ballad with soft, clean guitar arpeggios. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Gretsch G6122T Country Gentleman through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue stands in. Use the neck pickup and set the amp clean, just short of breakup. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "I'll Be Your Mirror" Tone

  1. What guitar did The Velvet Underground use on "I'll Be Your Mirror"?

    The guitar on "I'll Be Your Mirror" (released 1967) isn't documented; the Gretsch G6122T Country Gentleman above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "I'll Be Your Mirror" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, Volume 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.

  3. Can I play "I'll Be Your Mirror" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I'll Be Your Mirror" 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 "I'll Be Your Mirror" by The Velvet Underground are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

Adapt to my gear