Wishbone Ash album cover - Wishbone Ash
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Handy" by Wishbone Ash - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Handy"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain4.5
Bass5.5
Mid6
Treble6
Presence5.5
Volume7

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

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Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume9
Recording notes

From Wishbone Ash (1970). Wishbone Ash is the debut studio album by English rock band Wishbone Ash, released on 4 December 1970 by Decca/MCA. The album's personnel list credits Andy Powell and Ted Turner with lead guitar. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Flying V through a Marshall 1959SLP Plexi Super Lead Reissue, the rig we use for Wishbone Ash's other songs from Wishbone Ash, stands in. Set the amp to a light crunch and use the bridge pickup.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Handy" Tone

  1. What guitar did Wishbone Ash use on "Handy"?

    The guitar on "Handy" (released 1970) isn't documented; the Gibson Flying V above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.

  2. What amp settings does "Handy" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 4.5, Bass 5.5, Mid 6, Treble 6, Presence 5.5, Volume 7. 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.

  3. Can I play "Handy" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Handy" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Handy" by Wishbone Ash are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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