How to Dial In "Clean Living" by The War on Drugs - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Clean Living"
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 Deeper Understanding (2017). A driving, motorik heartland-rock song. Nothing published ties a rig to this song, so a Gibson SG Standard into a Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 stands in. Set a light-to-medium crunch on the bridge pickup and dig in harder for the louder sections. The rest of the album is in standard tuning, so that is assumed here.
Common Questions About the "Clean Living" Tone
What guitar did The War on Drugs use on "Clean Living"?
The guitar on "Clean Living" (released 2017) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Clean Living" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. 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.
Can I play "Clean Living" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Clean Living" 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 "Clean Living" by The War on Drugs are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.