How to Dial In "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" by Warren Zevon - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"
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 Excitable Boy (1978). Excitable Boy is the third studio album by American musician Warren Zevon. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Standard Stratocaster through a Fender Silverface Twin Reverb, the rig we use for Warren Zevon's other songs from Excitable Boy, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" Tone
What guitar did Warren Zevon use on "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"?
The guitar on "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" (released 1978) isn't documented; the Fender Standard 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 "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 4, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, 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 "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" 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 "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" by Warren Zevon are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.