Tone library / Tame Impala / Let It Happen

Let It Happen amp settings — Friedman Small Box 50

The Tame Impala guitar tone for “Let It Happen”, dialed in for a Friedman Small Box 50 with a Kawes Stratocaster. Studio version, Currents (2015) — main riff / rhythm guitar

Original rig

Fender Stratocaster / Rickenbacker 335 → Boss BD-2 Blues Driver → Dunlop Fuzz Face → MXR Carbon Copy → Seymour Duncan KTG-1 Tube Preamp (direct to desk)

Bright, slightly fuzzy overdrive with prominent highs, mid-focused grit, slapback delay — DI sparkle, not amp warmth
Amp settings — Friedman Small Box 50
CHANNELClean Channel (Channel 1 with Bright Switch)BRIGHTon
GAIN 6 BASS 4 MID 6 TREBLE 7 PRESENCE 7 MASTER 5
KnobSetting (0–10)
Gain6
Bass4
Mid6
Treble7
Presence7
Master5
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Guitar
PICKUPbridge+middle TONE10 VOLUME10
Signal chain

01Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned

Level 6 · Tone 7 · Gain 6

02Analog Delay (MXR Carbon Copy)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned (FX loop, set for short slapback)

Regen 2 · Mix 4 · Delay 2
Why these settings

The original DI tone gets its crisp top-end bite from the Seymour Duncan rack preamp direct into the desk, which is brighter and stiffer than a British tube head. On the Small Box 50, use the clean channel with the Bright switch ON and pushed gain (6) to replicate that gritty, edge-of-breakup saturation without getting muddy Marshall crunch. Keep Bass lean at 4 and push Presence to 7 to mimic the hyper-present DI frequency response. With the recommended BD-2, set amp gain back down to 2 and let the pedal drive the front end.

PRO TIPPosition 4 (bridge + middle out-of-phase quack) on your Strat is crucial to nail Kevin Parker's scooped low-mid funk-strumming clack, especially when playing aggressive 16th-note rhythm chops.

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These settings are for a Friedman Small Box 50. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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