Do I Wanna Know? amp settings — Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18
The Arctic Monkeys guitar tone for “Do I Wanna Know?”, dialed in for a Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 with a Fender American Ultra Stratocaster. Studio version, AM (2013) — iconic opening main riff
Vox Starstream XII 12-string / Gretsch Country Gentleman into Coopersonic ValveSlapper Dual-Valve Distortion, Selmer Zodiac Twin 30 & Magnatone Custom 410 amps
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 6 |
| Bass | 7 |
| Mid | 6 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Master | 5 |
01Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi (or dual-valve fuzz)
RECOMMENDED — not currently owned
The Lead channel with Boost engaged pushes the TubeMeister 18 into the saturated, fuzzy low-mid snarl of Alex Turner's Coopersonic ValveSlapper. Stratocaster single coils lack the heavy low end of the original 12-string and hollowbody setup, so use the neck pickup with tone slightly rolled off to thicken the bottom end without losing bite. With a dedicated fuzz pedal added later, switch to the Clean channel and drop amp gain to 2.
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These settings are for a Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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