Loaded album cover - The Velvet Underground
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Who Loves the Sun" by The Velvet Underground - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Who Loves the Sun"

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.

Gain3
Bass4.5
Mid5.5
Treble7
Presence6
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
Tone9
Volume10
Recording notes

From Loaded (1970), sung by Doug Yule. A bright, jangling pop-rock rhythm part with crisp electric strumming. 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 bridge pickup and set the amp bright and right at the edge of breakup. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Who Loves the Sun" Tone

  1. What guitar did The Velvet Underground use on "Who Loves the Sun"?

    The guitar on "Who Loves the Sun" (released 1970) isn't documented; the Gretsch G6122T Country Gentleman above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Who Loves the Sun" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 4.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, Presence 6, 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 "Who Loves the Sun" without the original gear?

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

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