California 37 album cover - Train
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Drive By" by Train - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Drive By"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain4.5
Bass5
Mid6
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume6.5

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone9
Volume9
Recording notes

From California 37 (2012). A bright, up-tempo California 37 pop-rock track built on a bouncy guitar hook. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Vox AC30HW2X Hand-Wired stands in. Set the amp on the edge of breakup and use the bridge pickup. Tuning isn't documented here.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Drive By" Tone

  1. What guitar did Train use on "Drive By"?

    The guitar on "Drive By" (released 2012) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Drive By" 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.

  3. Can I play "Drive By" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Drive By" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Drive By" by Train are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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