Tone library / Derek and the dominos / Layla

Layla amp settings — Fender Blues Junior IV

The Derek and the dominos guitar tone for “Layla”, dialed in for a Fender Blues Junior IV with a Gibson Firebird. Studio version, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)

Original rig

1960 Fender Stratocaster 'Brownie' → 1957 Fender Champ (tweed, 5W, dimed)

Raw, compressed lead tone with biting treble and creamy sustain from cranked power tubes

Amp settings — Fender Blues Junior IV

BRIGHToff

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

Don’t have a Fender Blues Junior IV? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

The original relied on a tiny 5W amp pushed into power-tube saturation — the Blues Junior's 15W clean headroom requires pushing preamp gain harder to compensate. Humbuckers output hotter than single-coils, so gain is pulled back 2 points from the Champ's dimed setting. Mids are pushed +1 to recover Strat clarity lost with humbuckers' warmth. Neck pickup approximates Brownie's glassy, singing voice.

PRO TIPRoll your guitar volume back to 7-8 during rhythm sections to clean up the tone without losing sustain — Clapton frequently rode his volume knob to control dynamics, and humbuckers respond beautifully to this technique for touch-sensitive playing.

Get this tone on your amp

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

Get ToneAdapt on Google Play

More tones for the Fender Blues Junior IV

DespacitoLuis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Holy Wars... The Punishment DueMegadeth Animal i have becomeThree days grece Back to the old houseMac DeMarco I Hate Myself and Want to Die (2013 Mix)Nirvana I Wanna Be YoursArctic Monkeys

Find your amp

Browse

Fender Blues Junior IV settingsALL SONGS FOR THIS AMP Layla on other ampsSAME SONG, YOUR AMP Derek and the dominos tonesALL SONGS Gibson Firebird tonesSAME GUITAR Tone libraryEVERYTHING

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.