How to Dial In "Giving Up the Gun" by Vampire Weekend - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Giving Up the Gun"
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 Contra (2010). Contra is second studio album by the American rock band Vampire Weekend, released on 11 January 2010 by XL. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender American Professional II Stratocaster through a Vox AC30 C2, the rig we use for Vampire Weekend's other songs from Contra, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the neck+middle pickups together.
Common Questions About the "Giving Up the Gun" Tone
What guitar did Vampire Weekend use on "Giving Up the Gun"?
The guitar on "Giving Up the Gun" (released 2010) isn't documented; the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + middle (position 2) on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Giving Up the Gun" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3, Bass 4, Mid 5, Treble 7, Presence 5, Volume 6. 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 "Giving Up the Gun" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Giving Up the Gun" 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 "Giving Up the Gun" by Vampire Weekend are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.