How to Dial In "Full House" by Wes Montgomery - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Full House"
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.
Title track of Wes Montgomery's live album recorded at the Tsubo coffeehouse in Berkeley in 1962, with Johnny Griffin on tenor sax and the Wynton Kelly Trio behind him. Wes plays with his thumb rather than a pick, taking single-note lines and then octaves on the neck pickup, in a dark, round tone with the tone control rolled back. No source available here confirms the exact guitar and amp on this recording, so a Gibson L-5 through a Twin Reverb stands in. Use the neck pickup with a clean amp with the guitar's tone control rolled back for a warm, round sound. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Full House" Tone
What guitar did Wes Montgomery use on "Full House"?
The guitar on "Full House" (released 1962) isn't documented; the Gibson L-5 CES above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Full House" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 1.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 4.5, Presence 4, Volume 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 "Full House" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Full House" 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 "Full House" by Wes Montgomery are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.