How to Dial In "Moaning Lisa Smile" by Wolf Alice - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Moaning Lisa Smile"
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 numbers are for an Orange Rockerverb 100 MkIII. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
The heaviest thing on Wolf Alice's debut and a deliberate nineties alternative pastiche — the quiet-loud structure, the fuzzy Rat-driven chorus and Ellie Rowsell's shift from near-whisper to shout are all straight out of the Pixies and Hole playbook, which the band have never hidden. So the recipe below is the chorus and the verses are the same rig with the guitar volume well back, not a clean channel. Recorded 2014-15 with Mike Crossey. Standard tuning. Joff Oddie and Rowsell both play, with the parts separated rather than doubled. Keep the fuzz mid-focused rather than scooped: the riff is melodic and needs to be heard as notes, not as a texture.
Common Questions About the "Moaning Lisa Smile" Tone
What guitar did Wolf Alice use on "Moaning Lisa Smile"?
Wolf Alice tracked "Moaning Lisa Smile" on a Jazzmaster (released 2015). The Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Moaning Lisa Smile" need?
On Orange Rockerverb 100 MkIII: Gain 6.5, Bass 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 "Moaning Lisa Smile" without an Orange Rockerverb 100 MkIII?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Moaning Lisa Smile" 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 pedals are on "Moaning Lisa Smile"?
The original signal chain for "Moaning Lisa Smile" runs through ProCo Rat 2. Whether you own those exact units or close substitutes, ToneMirror maps the pedal voicings onto the pedalboard you actually have.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Moaning Lisa Smile" by Wolf Alice are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.