How to Dial In "You Don't Have to Go" by The War on Drugs - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "You Don't Have to Go"
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 Deeper Understanding is fourth studio album by American indie rock band The War on Drugs, released on 25 August 2017 by Atlantic. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson SG Standard through a Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100, the rig we use for The War on Drugs' other songs from A Deeper Understanding, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup.
Common Questions About the "You Don't Have to Go" Tone
What guitar did The War on Drugs use on "You Don't Have to Go"?
The guitar on "You Don't Have to Go" (released 2017) isn't documented; the Gibson SG Standard above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "You Don't Have to Go" 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 "You Don't Have to Go" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "You Don't Have to Go" 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 "You Don't Have to Go" by The War on Drugs are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.