How to Dial In "Shapes of Things" by The Yardbirds - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Shapes of Things"
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 numbers are for an AC30. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Standard tuning. Jeff Beck's solo here is one of the first recorded uses of controlled feedback and Indian-influenced modal phrasing in a pop single, and it predates the psychedelic records it is usually filed alongside. The distortion is a Vox pushed hard into its own breakup rather than a fuzz box, so it stays midrange-heavy and slightly ragged instead of buzzy. The key to the sound is proximity: Beck stood close enough to the cabinet that notes bloom into feedback on their own, so set the amp loud and the gain moderate rather than reaching for more distortion. The drone effect comes from bending against a held open string, not from an effect.
Common Questions About the "Shapes of Things" Tone
What guitar did The Yardbirds use on "Shapes of Things"?
The Yardbirds tracked "Shapes of Things" on a Telecaster (released 1966). The Fender American Vintage II 1963 Telecaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Shapes of Things" need?
On an AC30: Gain 6, Bass 4.5, Mid 7, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 8. 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 "Shapes of Things" without an AC30?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Shapes of Things" 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 "Shapes of Things" by The Yardbirds are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.