How to Dial In "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)" by Waylon Jennings - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)"
- GuitarTelecasterModern equivalent: Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster
- EffectPhaserA pedal - which one isn't documented
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 are the numbers on the record. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Waylon Jennings wrote it for The Dukes of Hazzard, the CBS series he also narrated, and recorded two versions: the television theme, with Larry McNeely on banjo, and a slightly different one without the banjo for the single and album. RCA released that version in August 1980 as the second single from Music Man, produced by Richie Albright and Jennings, and it went to number one on the Billboard country chart. Jennings's guitar was a Telecaster: a 1953 model his bandmates covered in black leather with white floral work, and from the mid-1970s also a 1950 Broadcaster. His "spanky-twang" style mixed thumb and fingers on the rhythm with a pick for lead runs, through a pronounced phaser. No source says which of his guitars or which amp is on this record. Play the bouncy riff on the bridge pickup with the amp clean, a slow phaser on, and your thumb working the bass strings. No transcription could be checked, so no tuning is given.
Common Questions About the "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)" Tone
What guitar did Waylon Jennings use on "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)"?
Waylon Jennings tracked "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)" on a Telecaster (released 1980). The Fender American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)" need?
On the original amp: Gain 2.5, Bass 5.5, 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.
Can I play "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)" 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 "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)"?
The recording has phaser 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 "Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)" by Waylon Jennings are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.