Tone Settings for Only Wanna Be with You by Hootie & The Blowfish (guitar and amp)

1. Volume

• Keep volume at around 7-8 for a clean yet full tone.
• Adjust amp volume to stay clear, avoiding overdrive or distortion.
• Strive for even dynamics for a balanced rhythm tone.

2. Tone

• Set tone knob on guitar to around 6-8 for clarity with warmth.
• On amp, emphasize mids and slight boost to treble for chiming tone.
• Roll off bass slightly if using humbuckers to avoid muddiness.

3. Pickup Selector

• Use the middle pickup position for a balanced tone (neck + bridge if using a Strat-style guitar).
• If using a two-pickup guitar, try the neck pickup for smoother rhythms or bridge for a brighter strum.

4. Humbucker or Single Coil Preferred?

• Single coil pickups are preferred for their bright, chime-like quality.
• If using humbuckers, opt for coil-splitting if available to approximate single coil sound.

5. Ideal Guitar Type

• Electric guitar preferred for achieving the jangly, chorus-influenced tone heard in the song.
• A Stratocaster-style or Telecaster-style guitar is ideal with single coil pickups.
• Acoustic guitar can be used for basic rhythm tracking or unplugged versions, but may lack the crisp attack of the original recording.

• Fender Stratocaster: Ideal for bright, clean rhythm tones used in the song’s intro and verses.
• Gibson Les Paul: Useful for thicker lead parts and solos with more sustain.
• Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal: Adds mild crunch for dynamic rhythm and lead parts.
• Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer: Great for smooth, mid-range overdrive tones used in layered guitar tracks.
• Fender Blues Junior Amp: Compact tube amp delivering warm, vintage tone perfect for this style.
• MXR Phase 90: Subtle phasing effect adds movement during clean sections.
• Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Strings: Balanced tone and feel for strumming and lead work.
• Dunlop Tortex Picks (Yellow, .73mm): Versatile pick thickness ideal for both chords and lead lines.

• Use a bright, clean guitar tone with light chorus for verse sections
• Apply moderate compression on vocals to retain punch and clarity
• Select a snappy snare with slight reverb for a 90s pop-rock drum sound
• Use mild overdrive during chorus guitar parts for dynamic lift
• Pan rhythm guitars slightly left and right for stereo balance
• Keep bass tone warm and clean; use fingerstyle or soft pick attack
• Match vocal tone with light saturation and subtle EQ boost around 3 kHz
• Maintain moderate tempo (approx. 92 BPM) and consistent groove
• Layer acoustic guitar cleanly to add texture without clutter
• Avoid excessive effects; prioritize clarity and blend in mix