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Hotel California (Eagles) guitar tone and amp settings

Hotel California guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3: Crunch amp type, low gain (Gain 4.5), balanced lows (Bass 4), smooth top (Treble 6), bridge pickup.

Settings for your amp

Pick a reference amp

The song has distinct sounds: Intro. Each rig below lists what to change for them.

Hotel California settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3 settings for every song

AmpBOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

VariationOff
Amp TypeCrunch
Gain4.5
Volume6Set for a solid signal into the power stage.
Bass4
Middle5.5
Treble6
Booster0
Mod0
FX0
Delay0
Reverb ColorOrange
Reverb2
Set to your roomMaster
Set to your roomPower Control

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output for a firm, sustained amp response.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Variation
Off
Amp Type
Crunch
Gain
4.5
Volume
6
Bass
4
Middle
5.5
Treble
6
Booster
0
Mod
0
FX
0
Delay
0
Reverb Color
Orange
Reverb
2
Master
Set to your room
Power Control
Set to your room

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7

A 12-string guitar would better reproduce the intro’s chiming texture.

Hotel California settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40

Positive Grid Spark 40 settings for every song

AmpPositive Grid Spark 40

Amp TypeGlassy
Gain3.5
Bass4
Mid5.5
Treble6.5
Set to your roomMaster
Mod0
Delay0
Reverb2
Set to your roomOutput
App Amp ModelTweed Bassin the app, optional

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output for a clear, responsive amp tone.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Amp Type
Glassy
Gain
3.5
Bass
4
Mid
5.5
Treble
6.5
Master
Set to your room
Mod
0
Delay
0
Reverb
2
Output
Set to your room
App Amp Model
Tweed Bass

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7

A 12-string acoustic is needed for the intro’s characteristic doubled shimmer.

Hotel California settings on a Fender Mustang LT25

Fender Mustang LT25 settings for every song

AmpFender Mustang LT25

Amp ModelDELUXE DIRTin the menu
Gain4.5
Volume5.5Set the preset level without replacing room loudness adjustment
Treble5.5
Bass4.5
Middle6.5in the menu
Set to your roomMaster
StompNonein the menu
ModNonein the menu
DelayDELAYin the menu
ReverbSMALL ROOMin the menu

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output for a firm, sustained lead tone
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Amp Model
DELUXE DIRT
Gain
4.5
Volume
5.5
Treble
5.5
Bass
4.5
Middle
6.5
Master
Set to your room
Stomp
None
Mod
None
Delay
DELAY
Reverb
SMALL ROOM

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7

A 12-string acoustic is needed to closely match the intro.

Hotel California settings on any amp with Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble

These settings play the intro.

Amp

Gain1.5
Bass4
Mid5
Treble6.5

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Keeps the signal clear into the low-gain amp.
Tone8
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
1.5
Bass
4
Mid
5
Treble
6.5

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
8

A 12-string acoustic gets closest to the recorded intro.

Song parts

BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

  1. Intro:

    Amp Type Acoustic, Gain 2, Treble 6.5, Pickup Selector Neck + Bridge, Tone 8

    .

    Let the chord tones ring for a chiming, spacious feel.

Song parts

Positive Grid Spark 40

  1. Intro:

    Amp Type Acoustic, App Amp Model Pure Acoustic, Pickup Selector Neck + Bridge, Tone 8

    .

    Use gentle picking to suggest the intro’s 12-string shimmer.

Song parts

Fender Mustang LT25

  1. Intro:

    Amp Model 50S TWIN, Gain 2, Delay None, Pickup Selector Neck + Bridge

    .

    Play the descending chord figure cleanly and let notes ring.

Solo

  • Solo: Felder recalled a sunburst 1959 Les Paul running into a narrow-paneled Tweed Deluxe during the album sessions. (on this song)[3]
  • Solo: Felder recalled an Echoplex in the loop during the album sessions, and nothing more about effects. (on this song)[3]
  • Solo: Guitar.com quotes Felder on the outro solo on the title track of the 1976 album. (on this song)[4]
  • Solo: Felder said he and Walsh set up to play the ending on the record. (on this song)[5]
  • Solo: Record Plant Diaries says the guitar duet at the end of the song was performed by Felder and Walsh. (on this song)[6]
  • Solo: Walsh said the solos were not planned and were spontaneous, playing off each other. (on this song)[7]
  • Solo: Walsh said he and Felder sat down and worked out all the descending lines. (on this song)[7]
  • Solo: American Songwriter describes the extended solo as a calculated give and take between Felder and Walsh. (on this song)[1]
  • Solo: Don Henley said the two guitarists wrote the solos and worked over the harmony parts for days. (on this song)[1]
  • Solo: Felder said he had to play exactly what was on his demo in the Miami sessions. (on this song)[3]

Hotel California settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

AmpBOSS Katana 50 Gen 3

VariationOff
Amp TypePushed
Gain4.5
Volume5Set for a responsive, moderately driven amp section
Bass4
Middle6.5
Treble6.5
Booster0
Mod0
FX0
Delay ColorOrange
Delay2
Reverb0
Set to your roomMaster
Set to your roomPower Control

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output for sustained amp edge and lead presence
Tone7.5
The same settings in text

Amp

Variation
Off
Amp Type
Pushed
Gain
4.5
Volume
5
Bass
4
Middle
6.5
Treble
6.5
Booster
0
Mod
0
FX
0
Delay Color
Orange
Delay
2
Reverb
0
Master
Set to your room
Power Control
Set to your room

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7.5

Hotel California settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40

AmpPositive Grid Spark 40

Amp TypeGlassy
Gain4.5
Bass4.5
Mid6.5
Treble5.5
Set to your roomMaster
Mod0
Delay3
Reverb0
Set to your roomOutput
App Amp ModelTweed Bassin the app, optional
App DriveOffin the app, optional
App Comp/WahOffin the app, optional
App Mod/EQOffin the app, optional
App DelayEcho Tapein the app, optional
App ReverbOffin the app, optional

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output for sustained, amp-driven lead tone.
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Amp Type
Glassy
Gain
4.5
Bass
4.5
Mid
6.5
Treble
5.5
Master
Set to your room
Mod
0
Delay
3
Reverb
0
Output
Set to your room
App Amp Model
Tweed Bass
App Drive
Off
App Comp/Wah
Off
App Mod/EQ
Off
App Delay
Echo Tape
App Reverb
Off

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7

Hotel California settings on a Fender Mustang LT25

AmpFender Mustang LT25

Amp ModelDELUXE DIRTin the menu
Gain4.5
Volume5Set preset level without changing the room loudness target
Treble6
Bass4.5
Middle5.5in the menu
Set to your roomMaster
StompNonein the menu
ModNonein the menu
DelayECHOin the menu
ReverbNonein the menu

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume10Full output for a responsive, lightly driven amp tone
Tone7
The same settings in text

Amp

Amp Model
DELUXE DIRT
Gain
4.5
Volume
5
Treble
6
Bass
4.5
Middle
5.5
Master
Set to your room
Stomp
None
Mod
None
Delay
ECHO
Reverb
None

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
10
Tone
7

Hotel California settings on any amp with Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble

Amp

Gain5.5
Bass4
Mid6.5
Treble6

GuitarElectric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup SelectorBridge
Volume8.5Backed off slightly to keep the amp responsive and clear
Tone7.5
The same settings in text

Amp

Gain
5.5
Bass
4
Mid
6.5
Treble
6

Electric guitar with two humbuckers

Pickup Selector
Bridge
Volume
8.5
Tone
7.5

Add a tape echo pedal to approximate the documented Echoplex.

The control panel of a vintage guitar amplifier, close up

Why it sounds like that

Guitar strings over the frets, close up

Don Felder played the intro on a Takamine 12-string and the solo on his sunburst 1959 Les Paul, plugged into a narrow-paneled 1950s Tweed Deluxe, probably with an Echoplex in the loop. Joe Walsh played a Telecaster. The closing solo is a duet between the two, built on descending lines they worked out together, though the two disagree on whether the solos themselves were spontaneous or copied from Felder's demo.

  • Work out the descending lines with the second guitarist beforehand.
  • Trade phrases back and forth with the second guitar rather than soloing over it.

What guitar did Joe Walsh use on Hotel California?

A guitarist’s pedalboard, a dozen pedals cabled together

Joe Walsh

Guitar
Telecaster[3]

Don Felder · Solo

Guitar
1959 Les Paul sunburst[3]
Amp
Tweed Deluxe[3]
Effects
Echoplex[3]

Don Felder · Intro

Guitar
1959 Les Paul sunburst[2]
  • Intro: American Songwriter says the intro's ghost-like chords came to Felder first. (on this song)[1]
  • Intro: Guitar World says Felder played the intro on a Takamine 12-string and the solo on his 1959 Les Paul Standard in the studio. (on this song)[2]
  • Felder recalled Walsh playing a Telecaster, without knowing his amp. (on this song)[3]
  • Record Plant Diaries says Felder came in with a 12-string descending guitar line that everybody liked. (on this song)[6]

Questions

What guitar did Joe Walsh use on Hotel California?

The sources on this page document Joe Walsh's gear on Hotel California by Eagles: guitar, Telecaster [3]. Each value cites the numbered source it comes from, listed at the foot of the page.

What are the Hotel California settings on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3?

For the Hotel California guitar tone on a BOSS Katana 50 Gen 3, set Amp Type Crunch, Gain 4.5, Volume 6, Bass 4, Middle 5.5, Treble 6, Booster 0, Mod 0, FX 0, Delay 0, Reverb Color Orange, Reverb 2; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 7. Set Master and Power Control to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Hotel California settings on a Positive Grid Spark 40?

For the Hotel California guitar tone on a Positive Grid Spark 40, set Amp Type Glassy, Gain 3.5, Bass 4, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Mod 0, Delay 0, Reverb 2, App Amp Model Tweed Bass; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 7. Set Master and Output to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

What are the Hotel California settings on a Fender Mustang LT25?

For the Hotel California guitar tone on a Fender Mustang LT25, set Amp Model DELUXE DIRT, Gain 4.5, Volume 5.5, Treble 5.5, Bass 4.5, Middle 6.5, Stomp None, Mod None, Delay DELAY, Reverb SMALL ROOM; on the electric guitar with two humbuckers, Pickup Selector Bridge, Volume 10, Tone 7. Set Master to your room. They are AI-assisted starting points; adjust them by ear on your own amp.

Can I get the Hotel California tone on my own amp?

Yes. The settings above cover 3 reference amps and any amp with the basic controls. For your exact rig, KnobMaster, an iPhone app, sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for Hotel California, using only the controls your gear has.

Get it for your exact rig

KnobMaster sets every knob of your own amp, guitar and pedals for this song.

Download KnobMaster on the App Store