How to Dial In "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" by The Ventures - Guitar Tone Settings
What The Ventures Actually Used on "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"
- 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.
The Ventures' rock arrangement of the ballet Richard Rodgers wrote for the 1936 Broadway musical On Your Toes. Released as a single on Dolton in 1964 with "Rap City" on the B-side, it reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was included on Knock Me Out!, released in February 1965. By then Nokie Edwards had moved from bass to lead guitar. Since early 1963 the band had played Mosrite's Ventures Model, and from 1963 to 1968 their sleeves said they used Mosrites exclusively. Those guitars had hot single-pole pickups and a light-touch vibrato, and both are all over this track: the theme is played clean but bright, and the bar shades the long notes. No source names the amp. Use the bridge pickup on a clean, reverb-wet amp with plenty of treble, and lean on the vibrato arm for the dramatic swells. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" Tone
What guitar did The Ventures use on "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"?
The Ventures tracked "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" on a Mosrite Ventures Mark I (released 1964). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" need?
On the original amp: Gain 2.5, 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 "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" 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 "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" 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 "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"?
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 "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" by The Ventures are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.