How to Dial In "Polk Salad Annie" by Tony Joe White - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Polk Salad Annie"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
- GuitarFender American Vintage II 1957 StratocasterSuggested
- AmpFender '65 Twin Reverb ReissueSuggested
- EffectWahA pedal - which one 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.
Tony Joe White wrote it about the poor rural South he grew up in, where poke salad is a dish of cooked pokeweed greens. He recorded it on 16 May 1968 at RCA Studio B in Nashville with Billy Swan producing, with Jerry Carrigan on drums, David Briggs on organ and Norbert Putnam on bass, and it is on his debut album, Black and White. Monument released it as a single in June 1969, and it reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100; Elvis Presley's version on his 1970 live album On Stage also made the song popular. A review of Black and White describes his "wah-wah accented, gritty yet rich guitar twang". No source names the guitar, amp or effects units. Play the swampy riff on the bridge pickup with a little grit, and rock a wah pedal through the accents. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Polk Salad Annie" Tone
What guitar did Tony Joe White use on "Polk Salad Annie"?
The guitar on "Polk Salad Annie" (released 1969) isn't documented; the Fender American Vintage II 1957 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 "Polk Salad Annie" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, 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 "Polk Salad Annie" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Polk Salad Annie" 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.
What effects are on "Polk Salad Annie"?
The recording has wah on it. No source names the unit behind it, so this page doesn't guess one. ToneMirror maps each effect onto your rig - a pedal you own, your amp's own controls, or a block on a modeler - and says plainly when your rig can't make one.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Polk Salad Annie" by Tony Joe White are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.