The Art of Drowning album cover - AFI
Guitar tone settings

How to Dial In "Sacrifice Theory" by AFI - Guitar Tone Settings

The rig

Gear for "Sacrifice Theory"

Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.

The settings

Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning

Amp settings

Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.

Gain7
Bass5.5
Mid5.5
Treble6.5
Presence6
Volume6.5

On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.

Get the settings for my amp
Guitar setup

How the artist had their guitar configured for this take.

TuningStandard(E A D G B E)
Pickup selector
NeckNk+MdMiddleBr+MdBridge
Guitar knobs
Tone8
Volume9
Recording notes

From The Art of Drowning (2000). The Art of Drowning is the fifth studio album by American rock band AFI. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Gibson Les Paul Custom through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, the rig we use for AFI's other songs from The Art of Drowning, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.

FAQ

Common Questions About the "Sacrifice Theory" Tone

  1. What guitar did AFI use on "Sacrifice Theory"?

    The guitar on "Sacrifice Theory" (released 2000) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).

  2. What amp settings does "Sacrifice Theory" need?

    Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 5.5, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 6.5. 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.

  3. Can I play "Sacrifice Theory" without the original gear?

    Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Sacrifice Theory" 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.

Related tones

Tone references for "Sacrifice Theory" by AFI are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.

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