Tone library / Arctic Monkeys / When the Sun Goes Down

When the Sun Goes Down amp settings — Laney LA65D

The Arctic Monkeys guitar tone for “When the Sun Goes Down”, dialed in for a Laney LA65D with a Ibanez BL470. Studio version, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)

Original rig

Orange AD30 amp, Fender Telecaster (Jamie Cook), ProCo RAT2 distortion pedal, BOSS TU-2 tuner

Punchy post-punk crunch with angular mid-forward bite and controlled aggression
Amp settings — Laney LA65D
CHANNELClean channel (use as pedal platform)
GAIN 3 BASS 5 MID 7 TREBLE 6 PRESENCE 0 REVERB 0 MASTER 6
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain3
Bass5
Mid7
Treble6
Presence0
Reverb0
Master6
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge TONE8 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01ProCo RAT2 (or similar distortion pedal)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. This is essential for the track's gritty bite. A Boss DS-1 or TC Electronic Dark Matter would substitute adequately. The RAT's Filter knob works backward (higher = darker), so 6 gives controlled brightness.

Distortion 4 · Filter 6 · Volume 7
Why these settings

The Laney LA65D is a solid-state acoustic amp with a naturally clean, full-range response—it lacks the mid-forward breakup of the Orange AD30. Pushed mids to 7 compensate for the Laney's flatter voicing. Without a distortion pedal, you cannot authentically recreate this tone; the amp's gain circuit will not produce the RAT's clipping character. The Ibanez BL470's humbuckers are hotter than the original Telecaster single coils, so the recommended RAT distortion is set conservatively at 4.

PRO TIPThe signature rhythmic punch on this track comes from aggressive palm muting on the low E string during verses, then releasing completely into the open chords on the chorus—the dynamic contrast is the tone.

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These settings are for a Laney LA65D. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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