Tone library / Eagles / Hotel California

Hotel California amp settings — Blackstar ID: CORE v4

The Eagles guitar tone for “Hotel California”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID: CORE v4 with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio version, Hotel California album (1976) — dual-harmony outro solo

Original rig

Don Felder: 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard → Fender Tweed Deluxe (narrow panel, ~1955) → Maestro Echoplex EP-3. Joe Walsh: late-50s Fender Telecaster → Fender Champ, MXR Phase 90

Warm, singing lead tone with PAF-humbucker fatness, edge-of-breakup compression, slight tape-echo swell

Amp settings — Blackstar ID: CORE v4

CHANNELCrunch voice, ISF at 10 o'clock (American/Fender-leaning)BOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPneck TONE6 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Built-in Delay (ID:CORE modulation section)

Use the tape/analog delay voicing if available in the ID:CORE software — emulates the Echoplex warmth

Time 4 · Feedback 3 · Level 3

Why these settings

Original used PAF humbuckers with fat low-mids; your Strat's single coils are brighter and thinner. Compensate by using neck pickup with tone rolled to 6, boosting mids to 7 (vs original's ~5.5), and cutting treble by 1. ISF set American-leaning replicates the Tweed Deluxe's scooped-but-warm character. Gain at 5 on Crunch gives the singing sustain without fizz.

PRO TIPPick closer to the neck and use your fingertips rather than heavy pick attack—Felder's tone breathes because he played with dynamics, letting the amp's compression do the sustain work rather than hammering the strings.

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These settings are for a Blackstar ID: CORE v4. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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