How to Dial In "This Celluloid Dream" by AFI - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "This Celluloid Dream"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Sing the Sorrow (2003). Their sixth studio album, produced by Jerry Finn and Butch Vig and recorded at Cello Studios in Los Angeles in 2002, it was released on March 11, 2003. 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 nearest rig to the one documented for AFI, stands in. Set the amp to a driven crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it a half step down (Eb standard).
Common Questions About the "This Celluloid Dream" Tone
What guitar did AFI use on "This Celluloid Dream"?
The guitar on "This Celluloid Dream" (released 2003) isn't documented; the Gibson Les Paul Custom above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "This Celluloid Dream" 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.
Can I play "This Celluloid Dream" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "This Celluloid Dream" 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 "This Celluloid Dream" by AFI are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.