How to Dial In "Stay on the Ground" by Armor for Sleep - Guitar Tone Settings
What Armor for Sleep Actually Used on "Stay on the Ground"
- GuitarGibson Les Paul Custom
- AmpMarshall JCM800 2203
- EffectFlangerLine 6 pedal · On the bridge
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 numbers are for a Marshall JCM800 2203. 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 What to Do When You Are Dead (2005). What to Do When You Are Dead is the second studio album by American rock band Armor for Sleep. The album's Wikipedia article, quoting guitarist PJ Decicco, says a Gibson Les Paul Custom was used for the main rhythm tracking, with a Fender Telecaster Thinline and a Telecaster Deluxe alongside it, that Bogner Ecstasy and Marshall JCM800 amplifiers were used for most of the rhythm sections (an Orange occasionally for octave parts), that every song on the album is in drop D, and that he used a Line 6 Delay Modeler and Big Muff units. It does not say which of these each song used, so the Les Paul Custom through a JCM800 is the album-level rig and the knob positions are our estimate. The article adds that the bridge features a flange effect written by Decicco and played through a Line 6 pedal. Set the amp to a medium-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop D.
Common Questions About the "Stay on the Ground" Tone
What guitar did Armor for Sleep use on "Stay on the Ground"?
Armor for Sleep tracked "Stay on the Ground" on a Gibson Les Paul Custom (released 2005). Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop D (D A D G B E), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Stay on the Ground" need?
On Marshall JCM800 2203: Gain 6.5, Bass 5, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 5.5, 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 "Stay on the Ground" without a Marshall JCM800 2203?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the original recipe above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Stay on the Ground" 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.
What effects are on "Stay on the Ground"?
The recording has flanger on it. ToneMirror maps each effect onto your rig - a pedal you own, your amp's own controls, or a block on a modeler - and says plainly when your rig can't make one.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Stay on the Ground" by Armor for Sleep are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.