How to Dial In "Making Plans for Nigel" by XTC - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Making Plans for Nigel"
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 AC30. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
Standard tuning. The whole record is named for its priorities — Drums and Wires — and the guitars are treated as percussion rather than harmony. Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory play short, clipped, chorus-treated figures that never sustain, against Terry Chambers's famously heavy tom pattern. Recorded 1979 at the Town House in London with Steve Lillywhite and Hugh Padgham, whose gated drum sound was developed on these sessions. Keep the amp clean and very bright, the bass rolled off, and add chorus rather than gain. The most common mistake is playing this with a rock tone: the parts are built from muted stabs and harmonics, and any sustain or distortion fills the space the drums need.
Common Questions About the "Making Plans for Nigel" Tone
What guitar did XTC use on "Making Plans for Nigel"?
XTC tracked "Making Plans for Nigel" on a Telecaster (released 1979). The Fender American Professional II Telecaster 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 "Making Plans for Nigel" need?
On an AC30: Gain 3, Bass 4, Mid 6, Treble 8, Presence 7, 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 "Making Plans for Nigel" without an AC30?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Making Plans for Nigel" 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 "Making Plans for Nigel"?
The original signal chain for "Making Plans for Nigel" runs through Boss CE-2 Chorus. 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 "Making Plans for Nigel" by XTC are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.