How to Dial In "Sister Ray" by The Velvet Underground - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Sister Ray"
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 White Light/White Heat (1968). A seventeen-minute jam in which distorted, feedback-laced guitars and a roaring organ grind over a single riff. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster through a Vox AC30HW2X Hand-Wired stands in. Use the bridge pickup and set the amp for a tight, high-gain tone. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Sister Ray" Tone
What guitar did The Velvet Underground use on "Sister Ray"?
The guitar on "Sister Ray" (released 1968) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Sister Ray" need?
Settings for this sound: 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 "Sister Ray" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sister Ray" 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 "Sister Ray" by The Velvet Underground are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.