How to Dial In "Secret Agent Man" by The Ventures - Guitar Tone Settings
What The Ventures Actually Used on "Secret Agent Man"
- GuitarMosrite Ventures Mark I
- EffectReverbThe unit isn't documented
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 are the numbers on the record. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri's theme for the US broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man (shown in America as Secret Agent). Johnny Rivers had a number 3 hit with it in 1966. The Ventures' instrumental came out on Dolton the same year with "00-711" on the B-side, reached number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is on Play the Batman Theme, their March 1966 album of TV themes. Sloan wrote the famous opening lick as a nod to John Barry's "James Bond Theme", and the Ventures make it the lead line. This was the middle of the band's Mosrite period: from 1963 to 1968 their sleeves said they played Mosrite Ventures Models exclusively, with Nokie Edwards on lead. No source names the amp. Play the riff on the bridge pickup with a clean, cutting tone and a little grit when you dig in, and add reverb. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Secret Agent Man" Tone
What guitar did The Ventures use on "Secret Agent Man"?
The Ventures tracked "Secret Agent Man" on a Mosrite Ventures Mark I (released 1966). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Secret Agent Man" need?
On the original amp: Gain 3, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6, Volume 6. 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 "Secret Agent Man" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Secret Agent Man" 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.
What effects are on "Secret Agent Man"?
The recording has reverb on it. No source names the unit behind it, so this page doesn't guess one. ToneMirror maps each effect onto your rig - a pedal you own, your amp's own controls, or a block on a modeler - and says plainly when your rig can't make one.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Secret Agent Man" by The Ventures are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.