Tone library / Backseat lovers / Kilby girl

Kilby girl amp settings — Harley Benton HB-20R

The Backseat lovers guitar tone for “Kilby girl”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HB-20R with a harley benton ST-20 CA Standard series. Studio version, When We Were Friends EP (2019)

Original rig

Fender Telecaster or Jazzmaster through clean Fender-style amp (likely Deluxe Reverb or similar), minimal pedals — the band's early recordings favor straightforward clean tones with light room reverb

Sparkling clean indie jangle with bright attack, subtle warmth, and light ambient reverb

Amp settings — Harley Benton HB-20R

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	2
Bass	4
Mid	6
Treble	7
Presence	0
Reverb	4
Master	5

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Guitar

PICKUPbridge+middle TONE7 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The HB-20R is a small solid-state practice amp with limited headroom and a slightly boxy midrange. Gain at 2 keeps it fully clean — any higher introduces fizzy breakup unsuitable for this glassy tone. Treble pushed to 7 compensates for the amp's naturally darker voicing vs a Fender Deluxe. Mid at 6 adds note definition that small speakers lose. The ST-20's ceramic single coils are brighter and thinner than vintage Fender pickups, so tone knob rolled to 7 tames ice-pick highs.

PRO TIPUse the bridge+middle position (position 4) and pick closer to the neck than the bridge — this gives the characteristic 'quacky' Fender scoop heard on the record while keeping attack defined. Let chords ring and decay naturally; the song breathes on sustain.

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These settings are for a Harley Benton HB-20R. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.