How to Dial In "I Should Have Known Better" by Wire - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "I Should Have Known Better"
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 154 (1979). 154 is the third studio album by the English post-punk band Wire, released in September 1979 by Harvest. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Player Telecaster through a Vox AC30 C2, the rig we use for Wire's other songs from 154, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "I Should Have Known Better" Tone
What guitar did Wire use on "I Should Have Known Better"?
The guitar on "I Should Have Known Better" (released 1979) isn't documented; the Fender Player Telecaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "I Should Have Known Better" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 3.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, 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 "I Should Have Known Better" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "I Should Have Known Better" 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 "I Should Have Known Better" by Wire are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.