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Tuned to the exact gear you own
The recording
Recorded in Cincinnati at King Records between August 1960 and early 1961, “Hide Away” captures King’s searing lead tone with a Gibson ES‑345 run through a cranked Fender Quad Reverb. The amp was mic'd with a ribbon mic and a room mic to capture natural ambience, giving the track its big, reverberant sound while the rhythm section lays down a tight shuffle groove.
Tuning Standard (E A D G B E)
Signal chain
Reported gear
1960 Gibson ES-345 (Cherry Red)
Guitar
Freddie King performed the lead on a cherry‑red 1960 Gibson ES‑345, using a plastic thumb pick and steel fingerpick, delivering the iconic riff that drives “Hide Away”.
1961 Fender Quad Reverb (Combo)
Amplifier
The ES‑345 was cranked through a Fender Quad Reverb combo, with the reverb set high, giving the track its massive, reverberant Texas blues tone.
Alternatives
Epiphone ES-345
Modern equivalent · for the 1960 Gibson ES-345 (Cherry Red)
Fender Quad Reverb Reissue
Reissue · for the 1961 Fender Quad Reverb (Combo)
Practical playing approach
Recreation guidance, not a claim about undocumented studio control positions.
- 1.Use a plastic thumb pick in your picking hand and a steel fingerpick on the remaining fingers.
- 2.Play the main motif on the low E string, using hammer‑ons at the 12th fret for the quick triplet lick.
- 3.Set the guitar’s pickup selector to the bridge position for a tighter, more aggressive tone.
- 4.Let the reverb tail breathe; avoid excessive compression to preserve the natural room sound.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What gear was used for the Hide Away guitar tone?
The available research points to 1960 Gibson ES-345 (Cherry Red) into 1961 Fender Quad Reverb (Combo). The full reported signal chain and evidence links are listed on this page.
Are the original Hide Away amp settings documented?
Exact historical knob positions are not reliably documented for most recordings. ToneTwin does not publish generated values as studio fact; it creates playable settings only for the amp and pedals a player selects.
What tuning is Hide Away in?
The current research record lists Standard (E A D G B E). ToneTwin keeps corrections open when reliable accounts disagree.
How do I recreate the Hide Away tone on my own gear?
Use the reported pickup, gain character, effects and signal-chain order as the target, then translate that target to your equipment. The matcher models controls for your selected rig rather than copying undocumented studio numbers.
Researched and reviewed by the ToneTwin Research Team.
