Where Is My Mind? by Pixies — 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.
For 'Where Is My Mind?' by the Pixies, we'll use the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s for its single-coil pickups, aligning with the recording's tone. The Fender Mustang LT25 will emulate the amp's crunch and mid-forward character. We'll use the amp's built-in effects to cover the essential chorus and reverb, capturing the raw and dynamic tone of the original recording.
Signal chain settings
Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '60s — Main guitar
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup Selector | Middle Pickup | Select the middle pickup for a balanced tone that matches the recording's mid-forward character. |
| Master Volume | 8 | Set to 8 for a dynamic response that allows for expressive playing. |
| Tone 1 | 7 | Tone 1 at 7 to control brightness and avoid harshness, keeping the sound warm. |
| Tone 2 | Leave at default | Not used for the middle pickup; leave at default. |
Fender Mustang LT25 — Amplification and effects
| Control | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Preset Select | 04 CLASSIC ROCK | This preset provides a crunch tone that aligns with the recording's amp character. |
| Gain | 5 | Set to 5 to achieve the edge-of-breakup tone with slight grit. |
| Volume | 6 | Volume at 6 to maintain a balanced output without overpowering the effects. |
| Treble | 6 | Treble at 6 to keep the tone bright but not piercing, compensating for the Strat's natural brightness. |
| Bass | 4 | Bass at 4 to control the low end and maintain clarity in the mix. |
| Master | 7 | Master at 7 for moderate amp sag and dynamic response. |
| Effects | Chorus and Reverb | Engage chorus and reverb for the essential ambient texture of the recording. Set chorus rate to 3, depth to 5, and reverb level to 4 for a natural room ambiance. Using the amp's Menu Button and Preset Select, open the effects list to reach it. 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. |
Section guide — how the tone changes through the song
Verse
The guitar tone is clean with a slight reverb effect throughout the verses.
- the pedal: Gain → 3
What Pixies actually used
The recording of 'Where Is My Mind?' featured Joey Santiago on lead guitar using a 1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop reissue, likely through a ProCo RAT pedal into a Marshall JCM800 amp. Black Francis provided rhythm with an acoustic guitar. Producer Steve Albini captured Kim Deal's backing vocals in a tiled bathroom to achieve natural reverb.
- 1970s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop reissue — lead guitar
- ProCo RAT — distortion
- Marshall JCM800 50-watt head with Marshall 4x12 cabinet — amplification
- Acoustic guitar — rhythm guitar
- Natural reverb from bathroom recording — backing vocals ambience
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://guitar-zone.com/guitar-lesson/pixies-where-is-my-mind/
- https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-story-of-pixies-where-is-my-mind
- https://tonesmatch.com/tones/where-is-my-mind-pixies-riff-distorted-5970
- https://pocketmags.com/total-guitar-magazine/may-2023/articles/pixies-where-is-my-mind