How to Dial In "Fractured Mirror" by Ace Frehley - Guitar Tone Settings
The Gear Behind "Fractured Mirror"
Original Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
These are the numbers on the record. On your amp, they won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Ace Frehley (1978). An instrumental closer on which Frehley's layered, melodic Les Paul lines take centre stage. Frehley has said he recorded almost the whole 1978 solo album with his 1959 sunburst Les Paul (Guitar World), so a 1958 Les Paul Standard reissue stands in for it. No reliable source names the amp used on the album, so none is set. Set the amp at a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Tuning isn't documented here.
Common Questions About the "Fractured Mirror" Tone
What guitar did Ace Frehley use on "Fractured Mirror"?
Ace Frehley tracked "Fractured Mirror" on a Les Paul (released 1978). The Gibson 1958 Les Paul Standard Reissue named above is a modern equivalent, not the guitar on the record. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar.
What amp settings does "Fractured Mirror" need?
On the original amp: Gain 6, Bass 5, Mid 7, Treble 6, Presence 6, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Fractured Mirror" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Fractured Mirror" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Fractured Mirror" by Ace Frehley are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.