Hotel California amp settings — Harley Benton HB-20MFX
The Eagles guitar tone for “Hotel California”, dialed in for a Harley Benton HB-20MFX with a Harley Benton Harley Benton ST-62BK Hot Rod. Studio version, Hotel California album (1976)
1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard (PAF humbuckers) → Fender Narrow-Panel Tweed Deluxe 5E3 (~1955, cranked) → Maestro Echoplex EP-3 tape delay
| Knob | Setting (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Gain | 3 |
| Bass | 5 |
| Mid | 7 |
| Treble | 5 |
| Presence | 5 |
| Reverb | 2 |
| Master | 6 |
01Overdrive (built-in or external)
Use as primary gain source to emulate cranked Tweed breakup — set amp clean and let OD do the work. Avoid distortion or fuzz; this tone is warm breakup, not saturated.
02Delay (built-in or external)
Emulates Echoplex tape delay — aim for ~350-400ms, moderate repeats with slight decay. Tape-style delay preferred if available; digital works but sounds cleaner.
Original used PAF humbuckers; your ST-62 has hot single coils which are brighter and lower output. Compensated by boosting mids +2 vs original, rolling treble back -1, and using neck pickup with tone rolled to 7 to fatten the sound. Your HB-20MFX is a solid-state practice amp — it won't naturally compress like a cranked Tweed, so the overdrive pedal is essential to replicate that singing sustain.
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These settings are for a Harley Benton HB-20MFX. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.
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