Tone library / Shawn mendes / Treat you better

Treat you better amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

The Shawn mendes guitar tone for “Treat you better”, dialed in for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3 with a Squier Affinity Stratocaster. Studio version, Illuminate (2016)

Original rig

Electric guitars recorded direct to UA Apollo with plug-ins, then mixed through SSL desk EQ + Avalon 2044 opto compressor + Manley Massive Passive EQ + SoundToys Echo Boy delay. Acoustic guitars dominate the arrangement.

Clean to edge-of-breakup rhythm with palm-muted attack, slight low-mid warmth, eighth-note delay shimmer

Amp settings — Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3

CHANNELClean Warm — select via Voice knobBOOSToff

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

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Guitar

PICKUPneck+middle TONE8 VOLUME10

Why these settings

Original was DI'd with studio compression and 200Hz warmth added in mix. Blackstar Clean Warm voice approximates that body without needing a pedal. Gain at 2 keeps the palm-mutes articulate but adds slight grit on hard picks. Bass at 6 mimics the Massive Passive low-mid boost. Your Strat's single coils are brighter than humbuckers likely used on the session, so treble stays moderate at 6.

PRO TIPPalm-mute with consistent pressure right at the bridge saddle — inconsistent muting kills the rhythmic pulse that defines this song's guitar parts.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Blackstar ID:Core 20 V3. 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.