How to Dial In "Return of the Rat" by The Wipers - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Return of the Rat"
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 Is This Real? (1980). Is This Real? is the debut studio album by the Portland, Oregon-based punk rock band Wipers, originally released on vinyl in January 1980 by Park Avenue Records. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Player Mustang through a Fender '65 Twin Reverb Reissue, the rig we use for The Wipers' other songs from Is This Real?, stands in. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Return of the Rat" Tone
What guitar did The Wipers use on "Return of the Rat"?
The guitar on "Return of the Rat" (released 1980) isn't documented; the Fender Player Mustang above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Return of the Rat" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. 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 "Return of the Rat" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Return of the Rat" 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 "Return of the Rat" by The Wipers are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.