Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys — Amp Settings & Guitar Tone
Reference tone dialed on a Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster into a Fender Mustang LT25. Settings below are cited from real sources; open the page in a browser for the interactive version, or get this tone dialed for your exact gear.
To recreate the gritty and hypnotic tone of 'Do I Wanna Know?', we'll use the Fender Mustang LT25's modeling capabilities to approximate the Vox AC30 and employ its built-in effects for fuzz and octaver. The Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s will provide a bright, articulate attack, compensating for its single-coil pickups by emphasizing midrange and treble frequencies on the amp.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — main guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Bridge Pickup | Select the Bridge Pickup for a bright and cutting tone that matches the song's attack. |
| Master Volume | 8 | Set to 8 for a strong output without losing clarity. |
| Tone 1 | Leave at default | Not used for the bridge pickup. |
| Tone 2 | 5 | Set to 5 to balance brightness and avoid harshness. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — amplification and effects
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | [16] OCTOBOT ONE NOTE | Chosen for its ability to provide octave effects and a suitable gain structure for the song's fuzz tone. |
| Gain | 7 | Set to 7 to achieve the moderate gain with a fuzzy, saturated character. |
| Volume | 5 | Keep at 5 to maintain balance with the gain and avoid overpowering the tone. |
| Treble | 7 | Boost to 7 to emphasize the bright and cutting character of the tone. |
| Bass | 4 | Set to 4 to keep the low end tight and focused. |
| Master | 6 | Output level — set to the volume you're playing at; this sets loudness, not tone. |
| Effects | Octaver | Built into this amp — the song's signature octaver isn't a separate pedal here. Using the amp's Menu Button and Preset Select, open the effects list and pick Octaver. Start with the low octave around 5/10 and the dry signal fully up. Press Save Button to keep it in this preset. |
| Cabinet build | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
| Amp Models | Not used | Not needed for this tone — leave it off. |
What Arctic Monkeys actually used
The recording of 'Do I Wanna Know?' features Alex Turner playing a Gretsch G6128T Duo Jet 12-string electric guitar through a Coopersonic Valveslapper Dual-Valve Distortion pedal into a Vox AC30 amplifier. The production, handled by James Ford and Ross Orton, utilized tape saturation to achieve the song's distinctive tone.
- Gretsch G6128T Duo Jet — main riff. 12-string electric guitar
- Coopersonic Valveslapper Dual-Valve Distortion — distortion effect
- Vox AC30 — amplification
- Tape saturation — studio processing
Tuning: Standard
Sources
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/stratocaster/classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s/0303010500.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1547905/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://www.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/contemporary-digital/mustang-lt25/2311100000.html
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3126493/Fender-Mustang-Lt25.html
- https://equipboard.com/albums/arctic-monkeys-do-i-wanna-know
- https://www.artificial-monkeys.com/arctic-monkeys-gear-and-sound.php