How to Dial In "Gun Love" by ZZ Top - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Gun Love"
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.
A new studio track recorded for ZZ Top's Greatest Hits (1992). No source documents the rig on this track; Billy Gibbons' Les Paul into a Marshall stands in. Keep the gain moderate and the bridge pickup honky, with his light-gauge, pinch-harmonic attack doing the talking.
Common Questions About the "Gun Love" Tone
What guitar did ZZ Top use on "Gun Love"?
The guitar on "Gun Love" (released 1992) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Gun Love" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, 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.
Can I play "Gun Love" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Gun Love" 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 "Gun Love" by ZZ Top are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.