How to Dial In "A Northern Soul" by The Verve - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "A Northern Soul"
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 A Northern Soul (1995). A swirling, psychedelic title track where layered guitar builds from delicate textures to a heavy, saturated roar. In a Total Guitar interview Nick McCabe calls a standard Strat the guitar he really likes, with a Gibson ES-335 for the feedback parts, and Equipboard lists a Roland GP-8, an Alesis Quadraverb and a Watkins Copicat among his effects, though sources disagree about which amps he used. The rig on this recording isn't documented, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster into a Vox AC30HW2X Hand-Wired stands in. Set a medium-high crunch on the bridge pickup and keep the low end tight. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "A Northern Soul" Tone
What guitar did The Verve use on "A Northern Soul"?
The guitar on "A Northern Soul" (released 1995) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "A Northern Soul" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, 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 "A Northern Soul" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "A Northern Soul" 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 "A Northern Soul" by The Verve are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.