Tone library / Joe Cocker / You Can Leave Your Hat On

You Can Leave Your Hat On amp settings — Line 6 Pod go

The Joe Cocker guitar tone for “You Can Leave Your Hat On”, dialed in for a Line 6 Pod go with a Epiphone Les Paul Classic. Studio version, Cocker album (1986), produced and guitared by Richie Zito

Original rig

Richie Zito typically used Fender Twin Reverb or Music Man amps, Telecaster/Stratocaster or humbucker guitars, light compression, subtle chorus — classic '80s LA session rig

Warm, slightly crunchy rhythm with polished mids, glassy cleans on verses, tasteful bluesy grit on fills
Amp settings — Line 6 Pod go
CHANNELUS Deluxe Nrm (Fender Deluxe Reverb model) — closest to Zito's Fender-based studio toneBRIGHToffBOOSToff
GAIN 4 BASS 5 MID 6 TREBLE 5 PRESENCE 4 REVERB 3 MASTER 7
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain4
Bass5
Mid6
Treble5
Presence4
Reverb3
Master7
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Guitar
PICKUPneck TONE7 VOLUME8
Signal chain

01LA Studio Comp (LA-2A style compressor block)

Placed before amp block — provides that smooth, polished '80s studio sustain without squashing dynamics

Level 6 · Mix 5

02Transistor Tape (tape delay block)

Post-amp block — subtle slapback for depth, not prominent

Time 3 · Feedback 2 · Mix 2

0370s Chorus (CE-1 style chorus block)

Post-amp block — subtle thickening, hallmark of '80s studio guitar, keep it understated

Speed 3 · Depth 2 · Mix 3
Why these settings

Your Les Paul's humbuckers are hotter than the single-coils Zito often used, so gain is set lower (4 vs 5-6 on a Strat). Rolling volume to 8 and tone to 7 softens the attack and tames brightness to match that warm, polished '80s R&B-rock sound. The US Deluxe model gives you the Fender clean platform with touch-sensitive breakup.

PRO TIPUse your picking dynamics to control grit — dig in on the funky C7 chord stabs for a bit of edge, then lighten up on sustained notes to stay glassy. The neck pickup with rolled-back tone is essential for that buttery lead fill sound in the verses.

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These settings are for a Line 6 Pod go. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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